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| Imogen Whitehead with flugelhorn |
The flugelhorn has its origins in a German kind of looking horn. In early 18th century Germany, a ducal hunt chief often called a Flügelmeister used a Flügelhorn to direct his wing of the looking occasion. This developed right into a valved bugle within the earlier a part of the nineteenth century. It’s just like the trumpet and cornet, however its wider conical bore means the sound is darker and extra mellow. It employs the identical fingering system, so its similarity in dimension means it may be performed by trumpet and cornet gamers, with some adjustment to breath and embouchure.
It’s a customary member of the brass band and is often present in classical music: there are flugelhorn elements in Stravinsky’s Threni, Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 9 and Tippett’s Symphony No. 3.
This yr’s Ryedale Competition is offering an opportunity to rise up shut and private with the flugelhorn. The Competition, which runs from 10 to 26 July, is presenting some 60 occasions in 40 venues throughout North and East Yorkshire. The Competition programme is anchored round 5 inventive residencies – The Gesualdo Six, John Wilson and Sinfonia of London, Van Baerle Piano Trio, cellist Laura van der Heijden and brass participant Imogen Whitehead.
Imogen Whitehead‘s residency will probably be specializing in the flugelhorn and her appearances embrace recitals with organist Rachel Mahon at Ampleforth and with harpist Olivia Jageurs at St Michael’s Church Coxwold, and an look with Kirkbymoorside City Brass Band (the place flugelhorns will probably be in abundance alongside Whitehead’s solo look) in addition to a masterclass with younger brass gamers from throughout the area.
However the coronary heart of the residency would be the world premiere of a brand new Flugelhorn Concerto by Gabriel Jackson, co‑commissioned for Imogen Whitehead by the Ryedale Competition and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Charlotte Corderoy conducts Whitehead and the RLPO within the concerto’s premiere at St Peter’s Church, Norton alongside Weber’s Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.
Imogen Whitehead is championing an instrument that always sits within the shadows and is on the coronary heart of making new music and a stronger future for it. She can also be taking an instrument most rooted in brass‑band tradition and bringing it to the classical mainstream. This isn’t the primary time she has championed the instrument in new music, again in 2023 she commissioned a brand new solo flugelhorn piece from composer Charlotte Harding.
She is a part of a rising cohort of girls pushing into what has lengthy been a really male‑dominated nook of the career, and apparently trumpeter Matilda Lloyd will probably be becoming a member of the Gesualdo Six on the Competition for a joint live performance.
Full particulars of the Ryedale Competition from their web site.
