cello literature played on euphonium?

[Kevin Hendrick]

Does anyone have experience of performing cello literature on euphonium?
Thinking especially of Bach's cello suites. To me they seem to be quite playable. Although some of them looks like something you'd find in "Arban's method"

Not on a euph, exactly (unless you consider my instrument a "contrabass euphonium" ), but cello literature in general is very playable, and the Bach cello suites in particular are fun! They take a bit of work, but they're well worth it.

It'd probably be quite difficult to play the parts when you should play two tones at the same time. Maybe it's possible to sing the lower of the tones in those cases...

Using multiphonics for the double stops works pretty well. I find it easier to control if I sing the upper note and buzz the lower one (trying to sing lower than I'm buzzing seems to destabilise both). As always, YMMV ... hope this helps!

[Highams]

One I have featured many times is the Schumann Romance, no. 3 opus 94, it's ideal for the instrument.

www.euph9.freeserve.co.uk

[elimia]

Yes, lots of fun on euphonium and very doable. Douglas Yeo has (or had) a few available on his website.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Something to keep in mind: multiphonics have a certain sound that may not work well with Bach's music. It may be better musically to pick one note of the double/triple stops, or to arpeggiate them.

Certainly a valid point! Arpeggiating the notes (or picking the most appropriate one) is much easier to do, and more reliable in a performance, than the multiphonic approach. It's easy to get small interval inaccuracies with multiphonics, which can result in "beats" or "pulsing" in 5ths, 4ths, and other "harmonic series" intervals. Another possibility, if you're doing a performance and want all the notes played, is to arrange the piece for 2 or 3 players ... distribute the "solo" passages among the players (so everybody's chops last longer) and all play on the double- and triple-stops.