Baritone horn

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Baritone horn
Brass instrument
Other names
Classification Wind, brass, aerophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification423.232
(Valved aerophone sounded by lip vibration)
Playing range
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Baritone horn in B♭
major ninth lower than written. Can reach higher, and lower to C1 with a fourth valve.[1][verification needed]
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The baritone horn, sometimes called baritone, is a low-pitched

alto (tenor) horn, but it has a narrower bore compared to the similarly pitched euphonium. It uses a wide-rimmed cup mouthpiece like that of its peers, the trombone
and euphonium. Like the trombone and the euphonium, the baritone horn can be considered either a transposing or non-transposing instrument.

In the

brass bands. In concert band
music, there is often a part marked baritone, but these parts are most commonly intended for, and played on, the euphonium. A baritone can also play music written for a trombone due to similarities in timbre and range.

Construction and general characteristics

The baritone, like the trombone and euphonium, is a nine-foot brass tube. Valves are most often piston-style. It is predominantly of conical bore, like the euphonium, but has a narrower bore than the euphonium. The smaller bore renders its attack more distinct than the rounder attack of the euphonium, and also provides it with a brighter sound than the dark-sounding euphonium.

Key

The baritone is pitched in concert B♭, meaning that when no

low C (B♭2 in scientific pitch notation), with the fingerings thus matching those of the trumpet
but sounding an octave lower. It is often used to play parts written for the similarly pitched tenor trombone or euphonium.

Range

The baritone is part of the tenor section of a band. Its second partial with no valves pressed is concert B♭ on the second line from the bottom of the bass clef (B♭2 in scientific pitch notation). The eighth partial with no valves pressed is concert B♭ in the center of the treble clef (B♭4). Virtuosi can reach certain pedal tones below the E2 second partial with all valves depressed, which is the nominal lowest note on the instrument, and several half-tones above the B♭4, which is the nominal top of the instrument's range.

Tone

The baritone sounds with a timbre between the brightness of the trombone and the more mellow tone of the euphonium.

Distinguishing the baritone horn from the euphonium

Four-valve continental baritone horn (center)

Although both baritone horn and euphonium produce partials of the B♭ harmonic series in the same range, and both have a nine-foot-long main tube, the baritone horn tends to have a smaller and more cylindrical bore than the euphonium which is more conical. The baritone horn usually has a tighter wrap and a smaller bell, and is thus smaller and lighter overall, and produces a "lighter" and more direct sound versus the more solid, round timbre of the euphonium.[2][3]

There is a common misconception that the three-valve instrument is a baritone and that the four-valve instrument is a euphonium. Euphoniums often have a fourth valve as an alternate fingering for 1&3 split fingering with improved intonation. The fourth valve can also be viewed in the same way as an F trigger on trombone, repitching the instrument to expand the lower range. A fourth valve is less common on baritones, but absence of a fourth valve is not a defining characteristic.[4]

An "American baritone", featuring three valves on the front of the instrument and a curved forward-pointing bell, was common in American school bands throughout most of the twentieth century. While this instrument is in reality a conical-cylindrical bore hybrid, neither truly euphonium nor baritone, it was almost universally labeled a "baritone" by both band directors and composers.[4]

Marching baritone horn

Marching baritone horn

Specially wrapped versions of the baritone horn have been created for use in

alto horn or mellophone, and above the low tubas.[citation needed
]

Artists

Notable artists who are today referenced as great baritone horn players include Ruth Mellor,[5] Simone Mantia, Helen Harrelson,[6] Katrina Marzella,[7] and Leonard Falcone. The Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival is a notable venue for aspiring artists on euphonium, but its namesake played baritone horn on his many recordings.[8]

Trumpeter Maynard Ferguson used a baritone horn in the song "Gospel John" and in one of his three solos (the other two involving a valved trombone and a trumpet) in a live performance of his song "Great Guns".

Japanese free-improvisation trumpeter Toshinori Kondo has played baritone horn on some dates and recordings (e.g., Jazz Bunker), as has saxophonist Ralph Carney (e.g., Night on Earth).

References

  1. Wikidata Q114571908
    .
  2. ^ a b Robert Donington, "The Instruments of Music", (pp. 113ff The Family of Bugles) 2nd ed., Methuen, London, 1962
  3. ^ Apel, Willi (1972) [1969]. Harvard Dictionary of Music. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. pp. 105–110.
  4. ^ a b Werden, David. "Baritone or Euphonium?". dwerden.com. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Mentors - Various". Nabbss. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  6. ^ "Helen Harrelson | Besson". Besson.com. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  7. ^ "Katrina Marzella - Yamaha - UK and Ireland". Uk.yamaha.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  8. ^ Michigan State University Archives – Leonard Falcone Collection "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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