Five Valve Euphonium

Five valve euphonium (noncompensating) is an extremely rare variation of the well-known euphonium instrument manufactured by Britain's well-known Besson musical instrument company, and Britain's Highams of Manchester Musical Instrument Company, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Besson five valve euphonium featured the standard three piston valves horizontally on top, but had an additional two piston valves off the side. The standard euphonium has eight possible fingering and non-fingering positions by which sound is produced. The Besson and the Highams 'clearbore' model rare fourth and fifth extra 'side' valves change the possible fingering and non-fingering positions from eight to thirty-one. The term 'five valve euphonium' does not refer to variations of the double-bell euphonium made by various brass instrument companies during the same time period. Some of the double-bell euphoniums had five valves, with the fifth valve either on top with the other four, or by itself off to the side, but the double-bell fifth valve was used for switching the sound to the second smaller trombone-sized bell, and not for changing the fingering pitch of the instrument. Also, Cerveny Musical Instruments manufactures several euphoniums with five vertical rotary valves today, but this is an unrelated recent development. The Besson remains one of the highest quality euphoniums manufactured in Europe today. The Besson and the Highams 'Clearbore' five valve vintage euphoniums are one of the rarest and most valuable in existence.

Besson History

Besson is an established manufacturer of brass instruments. It is owned by Buffet Crampon, which bought Besson in 2006 from The Music Group. The company was formed in 1837 by Gustave Auguste Besson, who at the age of 18 produced a revolutionary design of cornet which surpassed all contemporary models. His products quickly gained a great reputation throughout Europe. In 1857 he moved to England where he built a large factory in London from which his instruments took a share of the English market and where he exported to many countries including the United States. Today, Britain's high quality Besson euphoniums are popularized today by performer Steven Mead.

Highams History

Joseph Highams of Manchester, England, was one of the outstanding brass musical instrument makers of the late 1800s and early 1900s, particularly euphonium and tuba.

Besson Five Valve Fingering and Nonfingering Positions

Open1, 2, 3, 4, 512, 13, 23, 14, 24, 34, 15, 25, 35, 45123, 124, 134, 234, 125, 135, 145, 235, 245, 3451234, 1245, 1345, 234512345

External links

* [http://www.besson.com Besson History]
* [http://www.euph9.freeserve.co.uk/neweuph.htm The Euphonium and Baritone Homepage]
* [http://www.euph9.freeserve.co.uk/newhigh6.jpgFive Valve Euphonium]
* [http://www.brass-forum.co.uk/Articles/HistoryoftheEuphonium.htm A History of the Euphonium by Charley Brighton]