Klarinet Archive - Posting 001223.txt from 1998/01

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Baritone horn or Euphonium
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 14:26:24 -0500

On Thu, 29 Jan 1998, Robert D. Shaw wrote:

> According to Woodwind&Brasswind,"All instruments made in the U.S.A.are
> now and have always been euphoniums.The term baritone is a misnomer that
> somehow got carried over to the U.S.from England when referring to three
> valve ,bell front instruments.The bore of a true baritone is cylindrical
> rather than conical like all U.S. instruments.The only true baritone is
> the English Baritone that is used in British brass bands."

This is true. In my previous message, I wanted to try to address the
issue of transposition and avoid getting too much into the terminology of
the instrument. The terms "baritone" and "euphonium" have been bandied
about and used interchangably, at least in informal settings. The
instrument may have a larger or smaller bore, have a greater or lesser
percentage of conical as opposed to cylindrical bore, have three or four
valves (or more), be in a "bell-front" or "bell-up" configuration, and
have a number of other physical distinctions, including the possibility of
two bells. Still, the things which distinguish this class of instruments
are: (1) made of brass; (2) utilize a cup mouthpiece; (3) have a greater
proportion of conical bore than a trombone; (4) use valves, usually piston
valves in this country, sometimes rotary valves in Europe and on older
models; and, (5) have as a fundamental tone the Bb below the bass clef.

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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