What the hell is a euphonium ?

[Tom Holtz]

"I play euphonium--it's a small tuba that can play all the high and fast notes that the big tubas can't hack."

[Ed Jones]

Q: "What instrument do you play?"

A: "The castrati tuba."

Q: "What is a euphonium?"

A: "It's a baritone that is played well."

[Rick F]

According to Dave Werden, most of the horns in the US today should really be called euphoniums... even the ones with a bent bell.

The nature of the baritone’s bore can be demonstrated by pulling out the main tuning slide and reversing it. It will still fit into the horn reversed, but such is not the case with my euphonium'’ tuning slide...
Measurements aside, my experience from playing most brands of this bell-front breed is that they sound like euphoniums. There is an old saying that goes something like "If it looks like a duck and waddles and quacks, then call it a duck." These bell-front type instruments should certainly be called euphoniums. All the definitions I found would support this title based on the characteristics these horns possess.
While it may seem more awkward to have to say "euphonium" instead of "baritone," let us help others get into the habit of using the correct names for these instruments. It is time to end the confusion.

Euphonium, Baritone, or ??? by David Werden
http://www.dwerden.com/Baritone-or-Euphonium.pdf

[TonyZ]

A trombone is like a trumpet only an octave lower.
A baritone horn is like a cornet only an octave lower.
A euphonium is like a flugel horn only an octave lower.

I beg to differ:
1. A trombone is like a tuba, but an octave higher whose sound is completely attack,
2. A baritone horn is like a tuba, but an octave higher whose sound is all attack, but no one hears it,
3. A euphonium is like a tuba, but just doesn't have the range,
4. A flugel is like a tuba, but 2 octaves higher (same pay scale)
5. The cornet is like a tuba, but two octaves higher, same pay scale, but with a relatively sour attitude...

[Rick F]

[Rick Denney]

I am still trying to digest this.Would it be safe to also say that they are no more similar than a Conn and a Miraphone tuba? Like comparing Granny Smith's to Golden Delicious.They's both apples just taste differ'nt.

The smallest baritone bore I've ever seen is .56" (for instruments called "baritones" for decades in the U.S.). The largest I've ever seen is perhaps .6" (it's not easy to nail this down because Willson and Sterling don't measure bore the same way everyone else does). That's a 7% range, and the median is .58" (which is right where Besson and Yamaha sit).

The smallest BBb tuba bore I know of is .656", and the largest that is still readily available is about .830". That's a variation of around 21%, with a median around .75", which is where most tubas sit these days.

Thus, the bore-size distribution between BBb tubas is wider than between euphoniums and baritones.

The smallest bell I've seen on a barieuph is 10", and the largest is 12". That's a 17% variation. Most are 11" or 12" these days. The smallest BBb tuba I've seen is only about 14", and the largest is 24" (excluding recording bells and sousaphones, which ranged up to as much as 30"). That's a 42% variation, not including many older isntruments with huge bells. Even the difference between my Miraphone and my Holton is an 18% variation, which is still greater than the total variation of all bariphoneums.

There's no way to measure fatness other than volume which is not an available statistic, but I'm comfortable in saying that the variation in volume for BBb tubas greatly exceeds the variation in volume for euphitones.

So, what's an organologist to do? All the various attempts to distinguish between baritones (as the terms is used in the U.S.) and euphoniums have resulted in so many exceptions that one can only conclude there is no definitive way to distinguish them. That's why I use the term most people are likely to understand or prepare myself to have to explain further.

Thus, in response to the question "What is that thing?", I would say, "It's a baritone horn, also called a euphonium, and it's really a tenor tuba compared to that big thing over there which is a contrabass tuba."

If they ask about that 8"-belled instrument in the other part of the band, I would tell them, "It's an English Baritone, but it's smaller than mine".

Rick "who thinks that sentence is at the limit of merely satisfying curiosity" Denney

[MaryAnn]

Well, ok, how about in British brass bands?
There are two euphonium parts and two baritone parts.

There is someone who plays in the brass band I do, on the 2nd baritone part, who has this little bitty upright bell thing that looks pretty cylindrical. I've never asked to play it, but it certainly is brighter than the two 4-valve Yammies that are on the euph parts. So I've always referred to this thing as a British Baritone, and the others as Euphoniums.

MA

[oldbandnerd]

Just thought I would resurrect this old gem just to see if there were any new thoughts on this subject .

[Lew]

I usually tell them it's a tenor tuba -- an octave higher than tuba. Sounds similar to a trombone, but with a more mellow or darker sound. I also tell them it's very similar to a baritone horn, only with a more tapered bore... more conical. If they still look confused, I tell them:

A trombone is like a trumpet only an octave lower.
A baritone horn is like a cornet only an octave lower.
A euphonium is like a flugel horn only an octave lower.

But I like Kevin's answer for this too...

SAT type answer:
Flute is to Piccolo as Tuba is to Euphonium

The "Bandie" answer:
This is what you get stuck on if you have no range on cornet/trumpet

Except when you say this you're likely to get the response"What's a cornet? Isn't that some kind of crown? What's a flugelhorn?" If they don't know what a baritone horn is it seems likely that they won't know what a cornet or flugel are.

I think that the best answer is "it's this thing," or if you don't have it with you, suggest they come to your next concert to see.

[trseaman]

I thought this was a good description and the picture, lower in the page shows a good comparison between a euph & tuba.

Some people no matter what you tell them just won't get it and they'll always call a euph a baritone...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphonium

[tofu]

"I play euphonium--it's a small tuba that can play all the high and fast notes that the big tubas can't hack."

I've always heard Euphoniums referred to as just tuba spit valves!

[Dan Schultz]

Well.... if it's so tough to describe what you play, why don't you just give up on the goofy little horn and switch to piano. Everyone knows what a piano is!

[BopEuph]

I just say "it's like a little tuba," and leave it at that. People are always more interested to hear that I play the bass. And chicks seem to dig it more.

Nick

[tubeast]

Just to answer the original question:

Of course ther is NO explanation for a euphonium. There not even is an EXCUSE for it.

[Posaune2]

Every time I play it in the orchestra, I get the question:

What is That Thing?

In America, it’s a Baritone Horn, unless it’s expensive, or has two bells, in which case it’s a Euphonium.

In England, it’s a Euphonium, except in Gustav Holst’s Planets, in which case it’s a Tenor Tuba.

In Austria, but only in Mahler’s 7th, it’s a Tenor Horn. (maybe- we’re not sure what Mahler really meant)

In France, it’s a tuba, but only for one movement of Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and only if the real tuba player doesn’t want to try it on his regular horn.

In Italy, it might be a Bucine in The Pines of Rome, but here we usually just play those parts on trombone.

In Germany, it’s a Tenor Tuba, except in Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, in which case a tenor tuba is some left handed contraption played by a French Horn player. (Who is probably not French)

In Richard Strauss, it’s a tenor tuba, but only after the left handed Tenor Tuba players tried the parts and crashed and burned.

In this week’s paycheck, it's a 50% bonus.

In pawn shops, it’s a planter.

[JTJ]

"Every time I play it in the orchestra, I get the question: What is That Thing?"

Out of curiosity, what euph do you use when the double is called for?

John

[Posaune2]

Out of curiosity, what euph do you use when the double is called for?

I play a 33 year old Yamaha 321S with a large shank receiver, a fifth valve attachement (when necessary) and either a 51D or 51D rim with a 51 Cup, depending on the repertoire.

I play the horn because it:
1. Sounds really good and projects easily in the orchestra
2. Is easy to tune, since unlike compensating horns, the main tuning slide is on the front where I can move it on the fly.
3. It is paid for.

[chronolith]

I'd have to say the easiest thing to do is just carry around a wallet size picture of you playing the euph. No explanations. I can't imagaine anyone wouldn't at least have a glimmer as to what it is then.

Of course then you have to explain at length why you carry a pitcure of yourself playing a euph in your wallet. Cancels out the benefit.

[dmmorris]

I jez say......."It's a bowling trophy"

[XtremeEuph]

A euphonium is a baritone with an attitude

My explanation is

euphonium is the same length as a trombone except with valves and bigger around.

And im assuming you get a response such as this? "Aha! I knew it, he plays a valve-bass trombone!"