Anyone want a good, cheap Mellophone or French Horn?

[Tubaing]

Conn 14D


Conn 134E


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Conn 14D

http://tinyurl.com/2nfmoy

[Donn]

More commonly called a marching baritone?

[Tubaing]

More commonly called a marching baritone?

No. It's a marching French Horn; commonly called a mellophone.
http://www.kingsofthefield.com/detail.php?item=1122SP

[jhedrick]

More commonly called a marching baritone?

No. It's a marching French Horn; commonly called a mellophone.
http://www.kingsofthefield.com/detail.php?item=1122SP

actually, a marching french horn is different than a mellophone.

And certainly different than a marching baritone. Especially the Bore

[Dan Schultz]

No. It's a marching French Horn; commonly called a mellophone.
http://www.kingsofthefield.com/detail.php?item=1122SP

actually, a marching french horn is different than a mellophone.

And certainly different than a marching baritone. Especially the Bore

Doesn't matter much what you call it. They all pretty much suck.

[Donn]

Doesn't matter much what you call it. They all pretty much suck.

Obviously, I don't know enough about this Bb marching french horn to have anything to contribute, but if we're talking about mellophones - ever hear of Dudley Fosdick? See if you can pick out a mellophone solo in this track from a Miff Mole band.

http://www.redhotjazz.com/songs/mole/crazy_rhythm.ram

[J.c. Sherman]

A marching Horn is in Bb, like the high side of a double horn. It's only played using a horn mouthpiece. The kings are actually playble; the holtons are quite nifty and physically beautiful

J.c.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I'm reasonably sure that the Marching French Horn in Bb is lower in pitch than the Marching Mellophone in F, since the Bb instrument is nearly a pound heavier.

That makes the Marching French Horn in Bb the same overtone series (or fundamental) as the trombone and baritone/euphonium. The difference would be the smaller bore size and small receiver for the typical horn mouthpiece.

My question would be...since most marching band parts for the alto voice are usually pretty high, why would you need a lower-pitched instrument than the mellophone to play them? Are there many schools using these instruments? Do you have the regular horn in F part re-written? Strange...

[J.c. Sherman]

The parts in the music are all horn in F. The mellophone/mellophoniums are piched an octave above the regular "French" horn in F, but plays the same range, and often with a different - trumpet-like - mouthpiece, though there is sometimes an adapter for a horn mouthpiece.

Double horns are in F, and have a higher horn attached to an ascending valve to Bb between F horn and F Mellophone, but is still read in F and uses alternate fingerings. The higher horn, shorter tube improves accuracey in the higher ranges. On Mellophone, it's even easier to hit these pitches.

Bb horns (still reading F) are still relatively common, though not nearly as common as a few decades ago. I prefer Bb horn, and simply put on more valves to cover the low range.

These Marching Horns are just that - Bb horns wrapped up like, well, mellophoniums to make them... I don't know, fit in? Certainly easier to hear, but horns don't sound so great from the bell end. The piston valves don't make much difference. either way

As a final weirdness, Descant horns have an additional higher/shorter horn attached which is in High F (rarely Eb), the same as the mellophone. These, however, are pricey, uncommon, and for professional use exclusively - there are even triple horns with F, Bb, and High F, and they weigh a TON!

Clear as mud?

J.c.S.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I'm aware of the differences between marching horns and the traditional double horn used in orchestras and bands. I'm also aware that the normal marching mellophone is "half as long" in tubing, the fundemental being an octave higher than the F side of a double horn.

What I don't understand is the practicality of these marching french horns in Bb. As I said before, the mellophone (alto) parts in marching bands (which is all these instruments are designed for) are generally quite high in tessitura...what prompted the instruments makers to offer what is, in all respects, a "mellophone" in Bb? Who needs it?

[windshieldbug]

Their bore is not that of a "normal" mellophone, but smaller; played with a horn mouthpiece they are the equivalent of the higher, Bb side of a double horn, so that they are EASIER to play on the high tessitura parts.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

The bore of the Bb and F horns are the same (at least, the Kings are (.468)...see the link above). The Bb Marching French Horn is pitched lower than the F Marching Mellophone, so I don't understand how you think it is easier to play the higher tessitura on the Bb horn. Yes, it would be easier to play the high notes on it when compared to a double F horn, but I was comparing the two marching instruments.

I may have figured out my own answer, though...on the "inside" instrument, the general rule is that all notes from Ab in the staff up are played on the Bb side of the instrument (that is, with the trigger). Notes from G in the staff down are generally played without the trigger, on the F side of the instrument. Maybe, since much of the parts in marching band are in the upper part of the staff, the players who use the Bb Marching French Horn are just more comfortable using the fingerings they are used to on the double horn, just imagining the trigger? Of course, they would have to use different fingerings from G down...but, then again, the F Mellophone players have to get used to new fingerings from Ab up...same as trumpet fingerings...but the Bb instrument is heavier...

Sheesh...it must get confusing for horn players...one set of fingerings for the inside instrument, another for the marching instrument...hmm...sound like any other instrument you know?

[Tubaing]

Bump

[Tubaing]

This has been resisted

correct.

Darn! You spotted it.

[Tubaing]

http://tinyurl.com/2nfmoy
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