[Trombone-l] Euphonium/Bass Bone Double

[Charles DePaolo]

Galen,

Perhaps the most important thing to understand about euphonium is that it does not serve the same function as the bass trombone - i.e. the bass voice in an ensemble.  Despite the name "baritone," it is typically the tenor ensemble voice.  Common euph playing in bands and brass ensembles is middle to high register stuff, with great flexibility and timbral brilliance.  They do make compensating euphoniums that have a more direct similarity to F-valve positions on the bass trombone.  These horns allow playing below the staff with less embouchure adjustment to attain proper pitch. (I don't know of a commonly available 5-valve compensating model that duplicates the functions of the dual valve bass trombone.)  As far as a mouthpiece is concerned, a Doug Yeo will work--sort of. So given the typical function of the instrument, with its inherent use of the upper register, the Yeo mouthpiece might be a poor choice for typical everyday playing. Most euph players are using something akin to a Wick 4AL - larger than a typical large-bore tenor trombone but not as big as even the smallest bass trombone models.

--Chuck

 

-----Original Message-----
From: trombone-l-bounces at samford.edu [mailto:trombone-l-bounces at samford.edu] On Behalf Of Galen Zinn
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 4:27 PM
To: Trombone-l at samford.edu
Subject: [Trombone-l] Euphonium/Bass Bone Double

I have a fair amount of experience playing a good Shires bass trombone. I¹m wondering about the possibility of doubling on euphonium. Is there a particular euphonium that would be chromatically equal to an inline Gb/Bb/F/D bass trombone?

Could I use a Doug Yeo Signature Yamaha bass trombone mouthpiece on the euphonium?

I¹m looking for any information I can find that will help me accomplish a bass bone/euphonium double. Basically I¹m wondering if it is mostly just a matter of swapping the bass bone slide positions for valve fingerings to do the euphonium double.

Any recommendations for a particular euphonium brand that could be considered equal to or better than a Shires bass bone would be appreciated.

What about intonation problems?

Check out: http://www.richmatteson.com/philos.html, as an outstanding example of a former jazz euphoniumist.

Galen Zinn
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