[Trombone-l] Baritone question

[jscot@ucalgary.ca]

>There is a problem of terminology here. Depending on what part of the
world you're from, a baritone and euphonium can either be different
instruments, or different names for the same instrument.

I grew up in a brass band background, and think of these as two separate
instruments - the British tradition (where the baritone is a smaller bore,
and more cylindrical than the euphonium). I own one of each. However, when
I was in high school, I heard those terms being applied with equal
frequency to any manner of valve instruments. Many American instruments
from the early 20th century would split the difference in bore and
percentage of conical/cylindrical from the description below. Add to that,
the various rotary valve versions from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
These instruments vary greatly in both measurements.

Many players would choose to play major orchestral solos like the Mahler
7th and the Shostakovitch - Age of Gold on a modern large bore euphonium,
while others take the composers' designation of B flat Tenor Horn as an
indication for the smaller British baritone. Even this designation brings
more confusion, since in Britain, the Tenor Horn is an E flat instrument
that in North America is usually called the Alto Horn.

The problem is that there are a lot of instruments out there that are
somewhat conical and have valves, and several names for them that have
been used interchangably. Good luck sorting it all out.

Jim Scott



 Hm.  My Baritone is as much conical as my euph.  Only the valves are
> cylindrical.
>
> My trombone, however, is almost 2/3 cylindrical.  Almost. Where'd you find
> a 2/3 conical "baritone"?
>
> J.c.S.
>
> ---- Josh Kane <JKBone5723 at cox.net> wrote:
>> To answer your questions.
>>
>> 1. Yes.
>> 2. I try to use the same mouthpiece on both horns. Baritones and
>> Euphoniums ARE different. Baritones are 2/3 cylindrical and 1/3
>> conical, and euphoniums are 2/3 conical and 1/3 cylindrical. Most pro
>> euphoniums are large bore unless is a Willson, or some Bessons, they
>> have medium bore (euorpean). Marching baritones are either small bore
>> or large bores. Marching Euphoniums are large bores. But yes, wether
>> it's large bore or small bore, it's interchangable with trombone.
>>
>> Josh Kane
>> Trombone/Euphonium
>> Providence, RI
>>
>> On Jan 20, 2009, at 3:35 PM, horns at easeandluxury.com wrote:
>>
>> > I apologize for a non-trombone post, but I thought there might be
>> > enough crossover that people on the list might have answers (and
>> > haven't found a better forum).
>> >
>> > 1) Is the fingering for the marching baritone the same as for the
>> > regular baritone? As seen here:
>> > http://www.veritas-online.com/edarchive/Euphonium.pdf (e.g., the Bb
>> at
>> > the bottom of the bass clef is open)
>> >
>> > 2) I've seen differing statements about mouthpiece sizes. Do
>> baritones
>> > (either sort) use small-shank mouthpieces, such as 12C?
>> > If so, then it would be interchangable with trombone?
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >
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