Euphonium

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Euphonium
English euphonium , Italian eufonio
Euph SV.jpg
Four-valve compensated euphonium, top action design, quart valve on the side
classification Aerophone
brass instrument
range Tenor horn range
Template: Infobox musical instrument / maintenance / sound sample parameters missing Related instruments

Flugelhorn , tenor horn , baryton , tuba

Musician
List of euphonists and tuba players

The euphonium ( Greek for "melodious") is a deep brass instrument that, due to its conical length, belongs to the bow- horn family , like the flugelhorn , tenor horn , baritone and tuba . In its sound it is primarily reminiscent of the latter instrument, with the difference that it does not target the bass, but the tenor and baritone areas, which is why it is often referred to as the tenor tuba, especially in English-speaking countries .

Today it is mainly used in brass , marching and concert bands . It rarely occurs in the symphony orchestra and is usually intended for solo interludes.

history

The euphonium as a tenor and baritone part developed from the ophicleide , which in turn emerged from the serpent .

Following the invention of the Périnet valves around 1813, the tenor trumpet bass as a forerunner of the flugelhorn was created alongside the trumpet . In addition, there was soon an alternative design, the more manageable tenor horn.

The euphonium was invented in 1843 in order to obtain an even deeper and softer sound. At that time it was still called the Italian corno basso chromatico . "Capellmeister Sommer", who came from Weimar , and Adolphe Sax are considered to be the inventors . The euphonium was given another length . The euphonium is also called the infantry cello, it is the "cello" of brass music.

Structure and properties

The basic tuning of the euphonium is in Bb; it sounds an octave lower than a trumpet and an octave higher than a tuba in this tuning. The notation is either in the treble clef as a B part, sounding a ninth lower than notated, or in the bass clef, untransposed as a C part. It is less common to see notations transposed to B in the bass clef, i.e. sounding a major second lower than notated; this notation is mainly used in France and the Benelux countries.

The euphonium is played with a funnel or a kettle mouthpiece .

While some early models were equipped with up to six valves due to the inevitable intonation problems of valve combinations, today's euphonies sometimes have a compensation system instead , but in any case only three or four valves. The first three are gripped with the right hand and, depending on the type of instrument, either from above or from the front (top action or front action) . The fourth valve, if present, is a quart valve. On simple instruments it is located next to the first three valves (in-line) and is grasped with the little finger of the right hand.

Four- valve euphonium without compensation, top action design, in-line valve configuration

On more elaborate instruments, the fourth valve is attached to the side and is played with the left hand. The bore in the valve machine is now up to 16.2 mm, in the fourth valve up to 17.2 mm. The bell either points upwards or is angled forward ("Bellfront" or "Frontbell") and has a diameter of up to 310 mm.

The pitch range corresponds roughly to that of the trombone , whereby even wide-bored euphonies often respond a little better in height. However, only compensated euphonies with quart valve can be played fully chromatically from the pedal position upwards. On non-compensated instruments, on the other hand, the tones from the big A flat down to the double B are increasingly poor. The note played on all four valves is much closer to the C than to the contra-B.

The timbre of the euphonium and the trombone differ considerably: due to its conical length, the softer sound of the euphonium is very similar to that of the French horn , while the trombone, due to its cylindrical length, sounds harder and is more similar to the trumpet or tenor horn.

Difference to baritone and tenor horn

Euphonium, baritone and tenor horn are three instruments of the same family with the same keynote and tuning; however, they differ in sound and function. The difference lies in the shape of the instrument: the euphonium is already conical from the mouthpiece; Baritone and tenor horns, on the other hand, have a cylindrical bore that only changes into a conical shape in the second half of the sound tube, behind the valves. The tenor horn also has a significantly narrower length, which is why it sounds lighter and the higher notes are easier to blow. The euphonium has a full, darker sound. The sound of the baritone lies between tenor horn and euphonium. Due to the conical shape of the euphonium, it is physically larger and heavier than the baritone and tenor horn and has to be blown with more air.

Use of the euphonium

The euphonium is a permanent fixture in the symphonic wind orchestra. In international wind orchestra literature, a first and a second euphonium are usually provided. In smaller formations, the voices are played as soloists, in larger ones with choirs. The euphonium is less common in Germany , Austria and the Czech Republic , as the oval horns with rotary valves like the baritone horn are traditionally used here. The euphonium is also spreading more and more in these countries, especially in the field of symphonic and traditional wind music, especially because the euphonium is part of the standard instrumentation of the wind class . The parts written for the baritone horn can also be played on the euphonium.

In the brass band, which is mainly widespread in the Anglo-Saxon region, and in the fanfare orchestras widespread in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Switzerland, 2 baritone horns and 2 euphonies are cast as standard.

In the symphonic area, the euphonium is used as a soloist - if at all. In works from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there are sometimes voices that are labeled "tuba" but are set very high for today's bass tuba. It is often not clear whether the composer had in mind a tenor tuba , a Wagner tuba , a saxhorn or another instrument that may no longer be used today. Today these games are mostly played by a euphonium. The euphonium is also used in the symphonic field instead of the tenor horn or baritone.

Examples of works in which a euphonium is used

Other literature includes concerts that were originally written for the violoncello. Also Ragtimes of, among other Scott Joplin will gladly played on the euphonium. The euphonium partially plays the trombone part of some pieces of music.

Solo works for euphonium / euphoniums

  • Amilcare Ponchielli : Concerto per Flicornobasso (1872) (considered the first known original composition for euphonium)
  • Alan Hovhaness : Concerto No. 3 ("Diran, the Religious Singer") (1948)
  • Warner Hutchison : Sonatina (1966)
  • George Doughty : My Grandfather's Clock (Theme and Variations for Euphonium and Brass Band) (1966)
  • Donald White : Lyric Suite (1970)
  • Joseph Horovitz : Euphonium Concerto (1972)
  • Gordon Jacob : Fantasia (1973)
  • James Curnow : Symphonic Variations for Euphonium; Rhapsody for Euphonium
  • David Gaines : Concerto (1987)
  • Vladimir Cosma : Euphonium Concerto (2001)
  • Shigeru Kan-no : "Etude" for Euphonium solo (2010)
  • John Boda : Sonatina for Baritone Horn and Tape
  • Edward Gregson : Symphonic Rhapsody for Euphonium and (Brass-) Band
  • Philip Sparke : Fantasy for Euphonium, Aubade, Pantomime, Party Piece, Two-part Invention (Euphonium Duet), Euphonism, Song for Ina, Euphonium Concerto No 1 for brass band, Summer Isles from "Hymn of the Highlands" (Euphonium Solo ) for brass band,
  • Philip Wilby : Concerto for Euphonium (1995)
  • Dominique Roggen : Concerto for euphonium, strings and Bc in B flat major - No. 7 from "Concerti anachronistici"
  • Marco Pütz : Concertino for Euphonium & Wind / Fanfare / Brass Band (2006)

Well-known euphonists

Web links

Commons : Euphonium  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Euphonium  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations