Double Bell Instruments

[The Big Ben]

There was a fourth (or fifth) valve which changed the entire horn into a higher range- about the range of an alto horn. The higher range part used the smaller bell.

[The Jackson]

As I understand it, a double-belled euphonium's (The only multi-bell instrument I've seen) main bell is to make it sound like a euphonium, while the other bell, activated by a valve, is shaped more like a baritone horn or trombone to give it that sound. Why they were made is a mystery to me, but I'm sure some others on here will know.

[windshieldbug]

Depends on both what the instrument in question is (I've seen double-belled cornets, altos, baritones, euphoniums, even tubas), and what the instrument is being used for.

The second bell typically provides another airway of the same pitch, but a different tone color.

A double-belled euphonium, for example, has a normal Bb euphonium side, and usually a Bb valve trombone side.

If used in section playing, they can usually provide additional support for the other bell's imitative instrument; that is, for example, a double-belled euphonium can play the normal euphonium part, but also provide support for the trombone section.

In solo playing, it provides another tone color that can be used while soloing. Echo cornets can switch rapidly and regularly between the muted and non-muted bell. Double-belled euphoniums can likewise switch tone color rapidly; in fact, I wrote a version of The Carnival Of Venice final variation that not only switched registers, speed, and articulations, but also bells to provide emphasis on the change from melody to accompaniment.

Here is my Conn double-belled Baritone

[Rick F]

There's also a double belled trombone. Dr John Marcellus of Eastman School of Music built one where the second bell connects through the 'F' attachment.



I heard Dr. Marcellus perform in Miami a few years ago, and you could hear some differences... but not a lot.

One of the guys in our section plays a double belled euph (a 1934 Buescher). We asked him to use the small bell where it's called for in "Light Cavalry Overture". After hearing it, we said, "never mind". Sounded too tinny or thin to our ears.

[The Big Ben]

There was a fourth (or fifth) valve which changed the entire horn into a higher range- about the range of an alto horn. The higher range part used the smaller bell.

Wrong.

Well, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[iiipopes]

Then there is another animal with two bells called an echo cornet. The echo cornet second bell has what appears to be a smaller bell mounted with an inverse bell tapering to the smaller diameter to give a softer, hence "echo" tone. I've had the pleasure of playing one of the more famous models, a Distin. Strange. I'll stick with mutes:

http://www.vintagecornets.com/html/echo ... rnets.html

[pulseczar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6ayD4yjUQk

[imperialbari]

There's also a double belled trombone. Dr John Marcellus of Eastman School of Music built one where the second bell connects through the 'F' attachment.



I heard Dr. Marcellus perform in Miami a few years ago, and you could hear some differences... but not a lot.

One suggested usage of the double bell trombone of the said type has been to use the second bell as the seat for a mute. That approach allows for a speedy switch between open and muted sounds. Just flip the valve.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

PS: And during the Preview-proofing I see, that JM demonstrates exactly that usage on the first photo.

Years ago I had the 2nd valve of my old bassbone lengthened to a tritone+. Combining the valves that gives a C. The 1st branch plus the valve slide gave something not too different from the open Bb. If I had worked more on it, I could have made valve tremolos between the full open bell sound and the muffled flareless sound.

[imperialbari]

[J.c. Sherman]

Uh, yes... sometimes.

The most common type of duplex horn is the double (french) horn, but that has only one bell, but it is an ascending valve.

There was a double tuba/euph made for Bill Bell by King which had a BBb tuba strapped to a Bb Euph. Same valve section, and a very much higher second bell.

I used to use a Double bell Conn as my main euph. It was a great player, though heavy as hell. I used the second bell a few times to cover real baritone cues and parts in Lincolnshire Posey and Holsts 1st Suite. I had a second, much larger-flared upright bell for these purposes. I also had added a 6th valve (like a 1.25 5th on a tuba) to give me a full chromatic range on both bells down to the basement (though the tuning was a little problematic on the bone side.

I sold it to keep people from bugging me to explain it and to get a lighter instrument. It's now in the loving hands of a student.

There have been other ascending duplex horns; I'll see if I can find some URLs to share... Besides a 6-belled Sax Trombone.

J.c.

[The Big Ben]

There was a fourth (or fifth) valve which changed the entire horn into a higher range- about the range of an alto horn. The higher range part used the smaller bell.

Uh....no....

Piling on, huh?

[tubamirum]

The neatest way to play a double belled horn is to trade fours with yourself on a jazz solo, or, play a statement and response.

[Allen]

For some more examples of double-bellness, go to YouTube and do a search on (double bell). Lots of interesting stuff.

Allen

[J.c. Sherman]

A one-off is still an exception...

J.c.

[Lew]

I have a King double bell euphonium that is actually the best playing euphonium I currently own. A double bell euphonium has a second set of tubing leading from the last valve (or switch valve) to the smaller bell that is typically more cylindrical vs. the main tubing which is more conical. There is typically one set of tubing leading up to the valves and for each valve. Both bells normally play in the same key but with the difference in the type of tubing allow for an instant change in the "color" of the sound.

This would be used to allow one player to produce different tone quality in the same piece for echo type of effects. As someone else mentioned, echo bell cornets were built for a similar purpose, although the tone difference between a main cornet bell and an echo bell was more drastic than on a double bell euphonium. I have also seen a Distin echo bell cornet, but didn't play it.

Distin also made an echo bell "melody horn," which was his version of a large belled upright Eb alto horn. The melody horn was like a mellophone, with a similar sized bell, but in an upright configuration. I owned a single version of this instrument, but I have an old Distin ad picturing the same horn with an echo bell. Again in this case the echo bell is activated by an extra valve and allows for instant muting type of effects.

It would certainly be possible to build a double belled instrument that played in two different keys by having different tubing lengths after the valves for each bell, but all of the production model double belled instruments with which I am familiar play in the same key through both bells.

[J.c. Sherman]

Just was pointing out that an exception means that the poor chap who said they were in different keys wasn't completely wrong; he was getting a little harangued, I thought. Still, an exception means precisely that not ALL double bells are in the same key.

J.c.S.