Euphonium facts for kids
A euphonium
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| Classification | Brass |
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The euphonium is a brass instrument. It is very similar to the baritone horn, but it is different because the tubes are wider and it is bigger. The euphonium makes low sounds, similar to the trombone. The euphonium has 3 or 4 valves and 1-3 spit valves. "Spit" valves do not really mean there is spit in the instrument, it means that there is condensation in the instrument.
The euphonium is seen in different sorts of bands in Europe and America. The musicians make the sound by blowing into the instrument and "buzzing" with their lips.
The word euphonium means: "producing nice sounds"
Euphoniums are basically silver and brass in colour.
History and development
The euphonium traces its ancestry to the serpent. While the serpent was used for over two centuries dating back to the late Renaissance, it was notoriously difficult to control its pitch and tone quality due to its disproportionately small open finger holes.
With the invention of the piston valve system c. 1818, the construction of brass instruments with an even sound and facility of playing in all registers became possible. The euphonium is said to have been invented by Ferdinand Sommer of Weimar in 1843, though Carl Moritz in 1838 and Adolphe Sax in 1843 have also been credited.
The "British-style" compensating euphonium was developed in 1874 by David Blaikley, of Boosey & Co, and has been in use in Britain since then, with the basic construction little changed.
Modern-day euphonium makers have been working to further enhance the construction of the instrument. Companies such as Adams and Besson have been leading the way in that respect. Adams euphoniums have developed an adjustable lead-pipe receiver, which allows players to change the timbre of the instrument to whatever they find preferable. Besson has been credited with the introducing an adjustable main tuning-slide trigger, which allows players more flexibility with intonation.
Images for kids
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The serpent, the oldest ancestor of all low brass instruments
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A euphonium (left) and tuba (right), the two lowest conical-bore instruments
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King marching euphonium
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Amilcare Ponchielli, composer of the first original euphonium solo
See also
In Spanish: Bombardino para niños
