The Instruments (A Rough Guide)

Euphonium

Regarded as one of the most versatile and all round instruments within a Brass Band, the Euphonium is until recent years fairly unknown outside of the Brass Band and Wind Band worlds. Along with performing their own unique solo parts within the music, they are also equally at home soaring up with the Cornets and down in the depths with the Basses (Tubas), it's closest relative in the band. You will also regularly find it paired with the Baritones or Trombones for tonal, chord based music.

The name 'Euphonium' derives from the Greek word 'Euphonos', meaning 'sweet sounding'. It's sound and versatility is often considered to be the brass relative of the Cello in the string world.

There is some debate as to the actual origins of the actual Euphonium with credit being given to Ferdinand Sommer in 1843, Carl Moritz in 1838 and Adolphe Sax in 1843. However its 'parentage' can be traced back to the, 19th Century, Ophicleide and, like most lower register brass instruments, the 16th Century, Serpent.

Most, British-style, Euphoniums' these days have an additional valve (fourth valve) which can be used with the left hand and this is known as a compensator and extends the length of the pipes in the instrument allowing for an extended range of notes to produced in the lower register and you will often find many players using it while performing some of the more standard notes or to assist in playing fast flowing combinations of notes. The "Compensating Euphonium" was developed by David Blaikley in 1874 and has been common in the UK models of the euphonium ever since.

In the Brass Band, the Euphonium is regarded as one of the core Solo Instruments (a close second to the Solo Cornet) often features heavily within the music with a lead melody, descant or solo. You will almost always find 2 players on the Euphonium although it is becoming even more common for these have two seperate parts to be performed as a duet, in close harmony or working alternately to achieve very rapid, fast flowing moving themes within the music.