Euphonium range question

[TubaZac2012]

So as most of you already know I'm a tuba player by trade, but here in the last week I've been playing almost as much Euphonium as I have been playing tuba, and now that I have my mouthpiece that I am seriously in love with, and a horn that I'll probably be borrowing for a good while, I have a few questions.

Number one. What is the REAL usable and necessary range of a euphonium? I am playing up to the Bb above the staff now problem, and sometimes the D and Eb above it, but I'm still working on getting my high register back, on tuba, when I was in school, playing 4 hours or so a day, I could pop out the F above that on a daily basis, I digress. I went to a good friend of mine, and he's an older man, about 80, but plays really well, and we said if I'm popping out Bbs I'm fine, but am I really? Now understand when I say I want to become a doubler, I want to be able to play parts, bass trombone parts, ect, but I'm thinking why stop there? Why not go ahead and play literature while I'm at it. Still thinking on that one. So I guess my question is what is the real high end of a euphonium supposed to go up to, obviously it can go as high as I can possibly go, but I'm not David Childs, David Werden, ect.

Second question, what are some good intermediate easy solos. I'm still working on chop strength, I can play for about an hour or so at a time and then I'm tired. I don't know trombone/euphonium literature really, and I have a flooded resource of tuba literature, but nothing for either instrument.

Sorry for the length, trying to be thorough,
Zac

[Rick F]

Zac, your range sounds very good. If you're getting high Bb's without difficulty that's great. On the low side (with a compensating horn) you should easily get down to pedal Bb. This should cover about 95% of band literature sitting in a euphonium section of a comm band setting. If you're wanting to perform some recent featured solos, the 'F' above the high Bb may be required.

For some solo repertoire in front of the band that's not too difficult, my first choice would be Rhapsody for Euphonium by James Curnow. It's in Am dorian mode which is very pleasing to the ear. Mr. Curnow dedicated this piece to his long-time teacher, Leonard Falcone. There's a sound sample there by Steven Mead. I think it's grade 4. I've played it with two comm bands and I'm an amateur.

Gentle Annie (see below) is pretty easy arr. by Loras Schissel. I had the pleasure of playing this one with Loras Schissel when he was guest conductor for our comm band about 8 years ago.

Here are some other suggestions offered by Dave Werden on his forum where a similar question was asked:
Ave Maria
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/ave ... f_id=15680

And here are some nice Puccini choices:
http://www.cimarronmusic.com/search.cfm ... 0721,10720

A nice Stephen Foster song, Gentle Annie:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/gen ... f_id=15680

A Sousa song, which is a vocal but can be played on euphonium (as did Michael Colburn, for example):
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/i-v ... f_id=15680

This Grainger version of Tuscan Serenade is very nice:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/tus ... f_id=15680

[TubaZac2012]

Very cool! Thank you. Yeah, the Bbs are coming easily, still working for the range past there. Thanks for the suggestions on the solos! I think in a few more weeks I'll be ready to start playing real euphonium music.

[TubaZac2012]

Zac, your range sounds very good. If you're getting high Bb's without difficulty that's great. On the low side (with a compensating horn) you should easily get down to peddle Bb. This should cover about 95% of band literature sitting in a euphonium section of a comm band setting. If you're wanting to perform some recent featured solos, the 'F' above the high Bb may be required.

For some solo repertoire in front of the band that's not too difficult, my first choice would be Rhapsody for Euphonium by James Curnow. It's in Am dorian mode which is very pleasing to the ear. Mr. Curnow dedicated this piece to his long-time teacher, Leonard Falcone. There's a sound sample there by Steven Mead. I think it's grade 4. I've played it with two comm bands and I'm an amateur.

Gentle Annie (see below) is pretty easy arr. by Loras Schissel. I had the pleasure of playing this one with Loras Schissel when he was guest conductor for our comm band about 8 years ago.

Here are some other suggestions offered by Dave Werden on his forum where a similar question was asked:
Ave Maria
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/ave ... f_id=15680

And here are some nice Puccini choices:
http://www.cimarronmusic.com/search.cfm ... 0721,10720

A nice Stephen Foster song, Gentle Annie:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/gen ... f_id=15680

A Sousa song, which is a vocal but can be played on euphonium (as did Michael Colburn, for example):
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/i-v ... f_id=15680

This Grainger version of Tuscan Serenade is very nice:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/tus ... f_id=15680

Also I am fine in the low register. I can play the lowest note on the horn. Should've mentioned that in the original post. I can play pedal Bb all the way down to BBb, like the tuba pedal BBb, as well as all notes in between.

[TubaZac2012]

the Bb you mention... is that the Bb under middle C(4)? or the one above that? i signed up with a group to play my old baritone horn... if i like it i'll look for a euphonium. what mouthpiece do you use?

The one above middle C. The one everyone refers to as high Bb.

[Bob Kolada]

If you want to play euph as a "swing instrument" for bass trombone, small quintet,... I'd say a solid pedal F and an exceptional low C-B. That's the hard part- comp euphs may be technically chromatic but most I've played have a chunky low D-B. Funny thing is, non comp euph's may have issues playing those notes in tune (depending on their valve configurations) but they also tend to play much better down there.

[TubaZac2012]

the Bb you mention... is that the Bb under middle C(4)? or the one above that? i signed up with a group to play my old baritone horn... if i like it i'll look for a euphonium. what mouthpiece do you use?

Speaking on mouthpiece. I use a huge mouthpiece. Like a contrabass trombone/euphonium. It's a Doug Elliott special. If you're wondering on specs I can look when I get home. It's a very large rim, cup, and bore.

[TubaZac2012]

Well welcome to Tubenet! This is a great, and fun forum, most of the time..

[thevillagetuba]

Euphoniums - which typically are more aerodynamic than the average tuba - usually have more range than a tuba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpuniL0ID9Y

+1

[TubaZac2012]

Euphoniums - which typically are more aerodynamic than the average tuba - usually have more range than a tuba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpuniL0ID9Y

+1

Very funny Bloke.. I was really wondering if looking for input, the video was pretty hilarious in all seriousness, though.

[Radar]

Euphoniums - which typically are more aerodynamic than the average tuba - usually have more range than a tuba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpuniL0ID9Y

Remind me not to loan any horns to this young man to try out his range!!

In answer to the OPs question regarding Euphonium Range I've been playing Euphonium in Bands for about 45 years now and can't recall any band literature that goes lower than a pedal Bb (and usually they will give you an optional note to play above that), or Higher than a High C (the C an octave above middle C on the piano) and typically when a high C or Bb is written there is an optional lower note given. I haven't done a lot of solo work and the solos I have done were older and fall within these Ranges as well. I'm sure there are probably more contemporary solos or literature that I haven't run across that may exceed these limits but they will be rare. If you can play down to pedal Bb and up to the Bb above middle C you will have the range to cover just about all literature you may come across.

[TubaZac2012]

Euphoniums - which typically are more aerodynamic than the average tuba - usually have more range than a tuba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpuniL0ID9Y

Remind me not to loan any horns to this young man to try out his range!!

In answer to the OPs question regarding Euphonium Range I've been playing Euphonium in Bands for about 45 years now and can't recall any band literature that goes lower than a pedal Bb (and usually they will give you an optional note to play above that), or Higher than a High C (the C an octave above middle C on the piano) and typically when a high C or Bb is written there is an optional lower note given. I haven't done a lot of solo work and the solos I have done were older and fall within these Ranges as well. I'm sure there are probably more contemporary solos or literature that I haven't run across that may exceed these limits but they will be rare. If you can play down to pedal Bb and up to the Bb above middle C you will have the range to cover just about all literature you may come across.

This was very helpful. Thank you!

[Bombardonier]

I am glad you can play those notes (high and low). Be sure that you can play with fluency in and out of extreme ranges (how most such parts are written) and practice site reading in the more extreme ranges a little bit every time you play. Most community band players I know have a small aneurysm if there's a note below F2 or above f4...not because they couldn't necessarily produce the pitch...but rather they just weren't used to reading and playing fluently in those registers. Develop the notes...but of course also focus on reading and fluency!