for Mary Ann

[Ace]

Mary Ann,

I saw your post below in response to the double tuba. The whole idea of double and even triple instruments is fascinating.

Knowing that you play so many instruments and are a pro-level violinist, I wondered if you had heard of the combination violin/viola? (Sounds like a good idea, but I'm not a string player.) I have forgotten the source, but I think the violin/viola instrument was written up in STRINGS magazine. It would be interesting to learn what string players think about such a "double" instrument.

Ace

[MaryAnn]

I don't play violin any more except about twice a year...primarily a horn player at this stage in my life. The only encounter I've had with what could be called a violin/viola was with the five-string electric violins that had the lower C string like a viola. However, because they were/are electric they wouldn't get very far in an orchestra! It's an interesting idea...it would have to be a little bigger than a violin in order to get a decent sound on the lowest string, but that would make it harder to play. A double horn, on the other hand, is quite a bit easier to play than a single, because the F horn is better in the low range and the Bb horn is better in the high range.

MA

[Tom Mason]

I have seen two examples of a five string violin in my area. They were being used in a bluegrass situation, and were strung from high E to low C, such as a violin/viola combination.

I personally did not like the sound.

Tom Mason

[windshieldbug]

If they had a violin/viola combination, how would one know which side to revile?

[Kevin Hendrick]

I suspect that a violin/viola would never become popular because of the fact that violins sound noticably different from violas. It would be like trying to combine a euphonium and baritone. They are similar, but different.

Isn't that called a double-belled euphonium?

[windshieldbug]

...an ideal instrument for snobby air-headed dummie artistes...

Isn't that called a double-belled euphonium?

No, I think it's called whatever the conductor played last...

[tubatooter1940]

Love the sound of a double belled euphonium. I think a double belled tuba would be interesting and useful.
Used to play a double necked Mossrite electric guitar with six strings over and twelve strings under. It was a quality instrument and easy to play but it weighed 40 pounds and my left shoulder kept going to sleep.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Love the sound of a double belled euphonium. I think a double belled tuba would be interesting and useful.

Sure seems like it would be -- I'd love to play one and find out!

[Chuck(G)]

how does a double belled euphonium work..... can you play two different notes out of each bell? if so, wouldn't that make some limitations on which notes can be played together because your are lips vibrating at a certain frequency?

Let's see, two different notes out of each bell. Well, I suppose that multiphonics is an option.

In fact, the DB euph uses a switch valve, but it's a little different from the double tuba idea. The DB euph changes the horn after the valves--in other words, two different bells, branches, etc.

...and the intonation can still be very tricky. But one bell at a time, I'm afraid.

[windshieldbug]

how does a double belled euphonium work..... can you play two different notes out of each bell?

No, there is an extra valve (4th on 3 valve instrument, 5th on 4 valve instruments) which directs the output air from the valves from one bell to the other. As a soloist, the closest I was ever able to come to playing both bells at the same time was to use the extra valve as a tremolo, but even that produces only the same note from both bells. One effect that I thought worked VERY effectively was to use both bells on something like the final Carnival of Venice variation, where one could make it sound even more like you were playing two instruments.