Thursday, July 07, 2005
Erm I'm trying to "redeem" a bit more life of the blog, since almost everyone is like MIA from internet access. well the following is something preferably for those who know nothing about euphonium, i.e. random visitors or something like that. i recall the last time anything like this was posted was way back when the blog was just created.
Euphonium
[Categories: Brass instruments]
The euphonium is a valved (Click link for more info and facts about brass instrument) brass instrument, the tenor member of the (The lowest brass wind instrument) tuba family. The appearance of a euphonium is very similar to that of a (The lowest brass wind instrument) tuba, and many people not familiar with the instrument sometimes incorrectly call it a tuba.
Like the tuba, the euphonium has a bore that constantly increases in size from the valve section to the bell - this is called "conical bore", as distinguished from "cylindrical bore" instruments, which maintain a constant tubing diameter for a greater portion of the instrument's total length. Thus, even though the euphonium plays in the same range of pitches as the (A brass instrument consisting of a long tube whose length can be varied by a U-shaped slide) trombone (with a cylidrical bore), it has a more mellow, "rounder" sound than the "brassier" sound of a (A brass instrument consisting of a long tube whose length can be varied by a U-shaped slide) trombone. This is similar to the difference between the (A brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves) cornet and the (A brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves) trumpet.
Typically, a euphonium has four valves. Each valve increases the length of the entire instrument when pressed down, according to the length of the tuning slide attached to it. The order of length from shortest to longest is 2, 1, 3, 4. The 4th valve is about the same length as valves 1 and 3 combined. The 4th valve exists because it is slightly more in tune in some contexts than valves 1 and 3 combined. Valve 4 also allows for a player to play in the lower register, by adding more tubing than the usual 3-valve instrument's limit. Some euphoniums also include 'compensating systems', consisting of extra tubing in the fourth valve. These both improve the stability of the instrument's sound in the lower ranges and allow the player to play in those ranges using more conventional fingerings.
Instruments similar to the euphonium include the American-style (The second lowest brass wind instrument) baritone, the British baritone horn (which, being a (Any of a family of brass wind instruments that resemble a bugle with valves) saxhorn, is more cylindrical and trombone-like than the American baritone), and the German baryton and tenorhorn. All trace their descent to the (An obsolete bass cornet; resembles a snake) serpent. A unique American creation was the double-belled euphonium, which featured a second, smaller bell and an extra valve allowing the player to use that bell instead of the main bell. The second bell had a more trombone-like sound.
The euphonium is most commonly found in wind bands of various kinds, such as (A group of musicians playing brass and woodwind and percussion instruments) concert bands, (A group of musicians playing only brass and percussion instruments) brass bands, marching bands, and (The military forces of a nation) military bands, where it is frequently featured as a solo instrument. It is predominant in many marches, such as those written by (A United States bandmaster and composer of military marches (1854-1932)) John Philip Sousa. It is also often used today in brass ensembles/choirs. It is not traditionally an orchestral instrument and thus is not found in modern symphony orchestras. Only for certain works where the composer specifically requested it is a euphonium (or "tenor tuba") used in orchestras (such as in (Click link for more info and facts about Holst) Holst's (Click link for more info and facts about Planets Suite) Planets Suite). The name "euphonium" comes from the (A native or inhabitant of Greece) Greek word "euphonion", meaning "beautiful-sounding" or "sweet-voiced".
Quoted without any editing, from http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/e/eu/euphonium.htm#
passion....passion......pass...i....on
Chuan Zhi
[10:53 PM]
in love with love and love itself *