flugelhorn
instrumentsFLOO-gul-horn
A brass instrument similar to a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore that produces a darker, mellower tone, used primarily in jazz and brass bands.
The flugelhorn (from German "Flügelhorn," meaning wing horn) evolved from the valved bugle in the early 19th century. Its wider conical bore and deeper mouthpiece give it a warmer, rounder sound than the trumpet, though it shares the same B-flat pitch and fingering system. The instrument is a standard member of British-style brass bands.
In jazz, the flugelhorn became a distinctive solo voice through players like Miles Davis, who used it on the landmark album Sketches of Spain, Art Farmer, who switched to it permanently, and Chuck Mangione, whose feel-good hit "Feels So Good" made the instrument famous in popular culture. Its mellow timbre also makes it a favorite for ballad playing among jazz trumpeters who double on the instrument.
Chuck Mangione's 1977 hit "Feels So Good" made the flugelhorn a household name — it spent 87 weeks on the Billboard charts and won a Grammy.