Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is similar to the cornet and trumpet, but has a greater proportion of ots bore of conical cross-section, with more rapid expansion than the cornet. As has been done on the trumpet, it is possible to make a a flugelhorn that has its valve slides configured for microtonal playing beyond what one could get on a standard flugelhorn.
Stephen Altoft's microtonal flugelhorn
An example of this is the microtonal flugelhorn of Stephen Altoft (site, YouTube channel). The valve slides can be quickly changed between on a configuration ("19-div") for 19edo and a quarter-tone configuration ("24-div"), which can be used for playing in 12edo as easily as for playing in 24edo. The configurations are named "19-div" and "24-div" rather than "19edo" and "24edo" to indicate the possibility to use them to for intentional playing of microtonal tunings that are not strict equal divisions of the octave.
As on a standard flugelhorn, the first three valves are piston valves actuated by the right hand, but with provision for quickly exchanging tuning slides and changing the limits on their length as needed for the tuning system; the first and third of these have tuning slides adjusted while playing by means of triggers, while on-the-fly adjustment of the second valve slide is impractical:
1. Extends total tubing length to lower pitch by a whole tone 3\19 or 4\24 (2\12); the associated tuning slide trigger is actuated using the right hand. 2. Extends total tubing length to lower pitch by a diatonic semitone 2\19 or 2\24 (1\12); converting between "19-div" and "24-div" involves exchanging the valve slide. 3. Extends total tubing length to lower pitch by 5\19 or 6\24 (3\12), but with slide length intended to produce this pitch alteration properly when in combination with either or both of the above valves (and possibly the fourth valve, below) rather than alone; the associated tuning slide trigger is actuated using the left hand.
This flugelhorn also has a fourth rotary valve inserted into the main tubing, trigger-actuated by the left hand to extend total tubing length to lower pitch by 1\19; converting between "19-div" and "24-div" involves exchange of the entire valve/slide assembly.
Another video features sound samples in "19-div" and "24-div" and shows the conversion process.
Music
- A Green Night in June (2026, with libretto by John McAuliffe) – Richard Whalley on Lumatone, Sarah Keirle-Dos Santos (site) as soprano, and Stephen Altoft on microtonal flugelhorn set to 19edo.
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