Alto Horns / Flugelhorns / Mellophones
The alto horn is a valved brass instrument pitched in E♭. It has a predominantly conical bore, and normally uses a deep, cornet-like mouthpiece. It is most commonly used in marching bands, brass bands and similar ensembles. During the 19th century it was called a ‘tenor horn’ in the British Brass Bands.
The flugelhorn is a valved brass instrument that resembles the trumpet and cornet, but has a wider, more conical bore and is generally pitched in Bb. The first version of a valved bugle was by Heinrich Stölzel in Berlin in 1828. The valved bugle provided Adolphe Sax with the inspiration for his B♭ soprano (contralto) saxhorns, on which the modern-day flugelhorn is modeled. Resource: “Flügelhorn”. Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The mellophone can be pitched in F, Eb, Bb, etc. It has a conical bore and is used as the middle-voiced brass instrument often replacing the French horn in marching bands.
