Old love

Today I have an informal gig in a nice jazzclub: Artishock in Soest. I was cleaning up the attic of my house and saw the gigbag of my old Couesnon flugelhorn. I decided to check it before putting it back, but when I played it, it was like meeting an old friend. I simply love the sound of this French lady. It is so warm and lovely, and it didn't play as bad as I thought. The valves rattle a bit, but still do their job. And playing it was actually a pleasure. The sound is somewhat smaller then my Van Laar B2, but it felt quite good. If I don't have to step on the gas then I guess this flugel is as good as any. Soundwise it is the best. I bought it from my former teacher Ack van Rooijen when I was still a student of his. The story is that this was a prototype that Couesnon made for him. There are two different types of waterkeys on the instrument. He told me that he wanted one on the first valve, too, and this looks different than the other two, indeed.
Anyway, this is one instrument I will never sell. It's like coming home after a great and long journey. I will play it tonight, and see how it plays in a real playing situation. I am actually looking forward to it.

This is a commercial picture of me playing my Couesnon. It is a nice shiny horn. I had it revised a couple of years ago, and it was compeletely stripped and newly lacquered.

Maybe I will write something about another love of mine, the Constellation, but that is for later.