Les Nouveaux Hélikons

Many believe that every possible kind of valved brass instrument was developed in the 19th century – at least experimentally, if not commercially. However in the first two decades of the present century a new family of ‘helikons’ in six sizes has been invented, made, and put into use by the Slovenian tuba player and composer, Igor Krivokapič. This article gives an account of the development of the new helikons and uses bore profile measurements to demonstrate that the four smaller family member significantly differ from the established models of brass instruments, supporting the inventor’s claim that they are indeed new.