A clear sense of purpose and understanding. THE BLESSING PHILOSOPHY Established in 1906, E.K. Blessing began as a family business and quickly recognized what was essential to the music community: a sense of support, security, and shared values. The E.K. Blessing Company honored relationships by listening to their customers and adjusted to the changing times of the 20th century. Blessing believed that a musical experience could change a life and a musical education could bring purpose to a life. This belief was demonstrated by providing quality musical instruments that were affordable and accessible. As a family business, Blessing helped create products that offered people a connection to others and the feeling that they belonged to something unique and special. Today, St Louis Music owns and operates E.K. Blessing Brass & Woodwinds. The core principles of the E.K. Blessing family business are still at work 113 years later. Blessing is a trusted and reliable brand name that offers a solid foundation for growth. Why Blessing? Blessing has the generational experience to understand the transformative change music can make in a person. We are here to encourage and guide that journey. 2. PERFORMANCE SERIES As students develop musically, they will need an instrument that allows for greater response, tonal color and dynamic range. The E.K. Blessing Performance Series offer a great balance between price and performance. Created for the advanced student, these models provide the sound and playability of a professional instrument. Whatever your goal, the Performance Series by E.K. Blessing may take you on a lifetime of musical enjoyment. 3 BTR-1460 Bb Trumpets The standard-bearer in the line, the BTR-1460 is a fantastic trumpet for any Performance Series level of player from the motivated advanced student to the professional Key of Bb musician. Free blowing and reliable, it is designed to inspire confidence .460” ML Bore and musical development. Well-balanced with a tight sound core and the 5” Bell Diameter flexibility to manipulate sound color, the BTR-1460 is affordable, offering Rose Brass Lead Pipe both the playability and value comparable to a professional model trumpet. Yellow Brass Body Finish options: (M) Lacquered Matte or (S) Silver-Plate Finish options. Yellow Brass; Two-piece Bell Nickel Silver Outer Slides Plastic Finger Buttons (M) Lacquered Matte or (S) Silver-Plate Finish Options Monel Valves Blessing 3C Trumpet Mouthpiece Blessing C-1460TR Backpack Style Case BTR-1460M Lacquered Matte Brass Finish. BTR-1460S Silver Plated Finish. This finish Turn some heads with this classic vintage provides a more responsive, brilliant tone brushed brass finish. The sound is slightly with wonderful projection. darker with good focus and depth. 3C Mouthpiece Includes: Blessing Pro Backpack Case, Blessing Polishing Cloth, Premium Mouthpiece, Valve Oil and Slide Grease. 4. BFH-1541RT Flugelhorn Historically, the Model 1541 Flugelhorn has perennially been a Blessing Performance Series best seller. It is ideal for both the student or the professional musician. Key of Bb In performance, a player will experience a smooth feel, transitioning .459” Bore between trumpet and flugelhorn without compromising the characteristic New 6” Bell Rose Brass Bell warm and mellow ‘flugel’ sound. Offering professional features that include Improved Tuning Mouthpipe an adjustable 3rd valve slide trigger, the Blessing BFH-1541RT is an upgrade Rose Brass Leadpipe in playability at a fraction of the cost. French Style Vertical Slide Configuration Hand-Lapped Monel Pistons 3rd Valve Slide Trigger Vintage Matte Finish with Bright Accents in Lacquer Blessing 3FL Mouthpiece Blessing C-1541 Backpack Style Case 3FL Mouthpiece BFH-1541RT Brushed Brass Clear Lacquer Finish. A Lacquered Matte or “Satin” finish option is achieved by scratch brushing the instrument before it is lacquered. The inside of the bell has a shiny lacquer finish providing a beautiful contrast to the body. The lacquer finish will protect the integrity of the brass and is thicker than plating. It is efficient, requiring less maintenance than a plated instrument because it doesn’t tarnish. The sound is stable yet warm and lush. 4. 5. BFH-1460 Double French Horn The tighter Kruspe style wrap on our BFH-1460 Performance Series Clear Lacquer Finish Double French Horn offers a blowing resistance Key of F/Bb Blessing MC French Horn Mouthpiece that is ideal for a developing hornist. European Kruspe Wrap Blessing C-1460FR ABS Molded Plastic Case in inspiration, the BFH-1460 is easy to play. It is .472” Bore perfect for the diverse demands of the student Large Bell Throat horn player moving from band and orchestra 12.20” Yellow Brass Bell into chamber music settings. The large bell Mechanical Linkage throat gives the horn a balanced, even color and characteristic dark tone. The yellow brass bell Rose Brass Leadpipe plays with a vibrant sound that is consistent in Nickel Silver Tuning Slides MC Mouthpiece Includes: Blessing ABS Molded Case, all registers with excellent projection and clarity. Blessing Polishing Cloth, Blessing Mouthpiece, Rotor Oil, Bearing Oil, Perfect for the beginning to advanced player, the Key Oil, and Slide Grease. BFH-1460 is ideal for a student’s first double horn or a school looking for a budget-friendly priced step-up performance level instrument. 6. BFH-1461N Double French Horn Designed with the advanced student in mind, Performance Series String Linkage/Mechanical Change Valve the Blessing BFH-1461N Double French Horn Key of F/Bb Blessing MC French Horn Mouthpiece offers features preferred by a generation of Kruspe Wrap Blessing C-1461FR ABS Molded Plastic Case American hornists. The large throat nickel bell .472” Bore affords a rich sound with greater tonal depth and Large Bell Throat maximum projection. The design offers a flexible 12.25” Nickel Silver Bell instrument that is responsive and free blowing. Nickel Plated Rose Brass Leadpipe The string linkage provides a smoother, quieter feel that teachers and professionals prefer. The Nickel Plated Tuning Slides BFH-1461N offers possibilities for players of all Clear Lacquer Finish MC Mouthpiece Includes: Blessing ABS Molded Case, ages and abilities. BFH-1461ND Detachable Bell Blessing Polishing Cloth, Blessing Mouthpiece, Rotor Oil, Bearing Oil, model available on request. Key Oil, and Slide Grease. 7. BTB-1488 Trombones For generations, E.K. Blessing has offered an affordable large Performance Series bore F-attachment trombone for the advanced trombonist without Key: Bb/F compromising on build quality and playability. Approved by 547” Large Bore educators for decades, the classic B88 was a traditional first choice 8.5” Bell Diameter for a serious student, laying the foundation in high school bands Traditional or Open Wrap Options across the USA. Clear Epoxy Lacquer or Silver-Plated Finish Options The new BTB-1488 trombones are an evolution of this legacy. Two-piece Yellow Brass or Rose Brass Bell Options Design refinement in the hand-slide construction and body bracing Traditional F Rotor Design offer a more resonant instrument that is responsive and easier to Yellow Brass Lead Pipe play with fantastic projection. At Blessing, our core values remain Yellow Brass Body the same. The BTB-1488 Performance trombones offer accessibility Nickel Silver Chrome-Plated Inside Slide to a path for rapid growth and musical development along with a modern playing experience that rival many professional models. Narrow Rose Brass Outer Slide with Nickel Silver End Bow Large Shank Receiver with Blessing 6.5AL Trombone Mouthpiece Blessing C-88TB Deluxe Case Includes: Blessing Case, Blessing Polishing Cloth, Premium Mouthpiece, 6.5AL Mouthpiece Slide oil and Slide grease. 8. BTB-1488 Trombones Wrap Options: Traditional / Closed Wrap vs. Open Wrap The term wrap refers to the configuration of additional tubing for the F-attachment section of the trombone. Closed Wrap - Traditional or closed wrap trombones have a tighter wrap tubing which provides a more resistant playing instrument. Open Wrap - The open wrap has fewer bends and a straighter pathway for the air; providing a freer blowing option. Bell Options: Yellow Brass vs. Rose Brass Yellow brass (70% copper 30% zinc) - Yellow brass offers a consistent Open Wrap timbre at all dynamic levels and registers with wonderful projection. Rose brass (85% copper 15% zinc) - Due to the higher copper content, the rose bell is a darker bell at softer dynamic levels but will become more brilliant at forte to fortissimo. Finish Options: Lacquer Finish vs. Silver Plate Lacquer is a clear epoxy protective coating that is sprayed onto the instrument in the finishing process to maintain its clean appearance. Since it is thicker than plating, it tends to offer more focus and support to the sound. The following Blessing BTB-1488 trombone models have a lacquer finish: BTB-1488 and BTB-1488R closed wrap and BTB-1488-O and BTB-1488-OR open wrap. Silver plating is thinner than lacquer providing more resonance and brilliance, which is ideal for outdoor performance. However, a silver- plated horn will require more maintenance because it will tarnish over time. The following Blessing BTB-1488 trombone models are silver Closed Wrap plated: BTB-1488S closed wrap and BTB-1488-OS open wrap. Both have yellow brass bells. MODEL BELL WRAP FINISH RESISTANCE AND SOUND BTB-1488 Yellow Brass Closed Lacquer Tighter / More Resistance - Colorful and consistent in timbre for all ranges and dynamic levels. BTB-1488-O Yellow Brass Open Lacquer Freer Blowing / More Open - Yellow brass offers a clear, pure sound that is even and consistent throughout a player’s dynamic and tonal range. BTB-1488-R Rose Brass Closed Lacquer Tighter / More Resistance - Rose brass is warm and vibrant with more flexibility in color depending on dynamics. BTB-1488-OR Rose Brass Open Lacquer Freer Blowing / More Open - The additional copper content in rose brass offers a more complex tone, rich in overtones.