Double bell euphonium

Double bell euphonium

Brass instrument
Classification	Wind Brass Aerophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	423.232 & 423.233 (Valved aerophone sounded by lip movement)
Developed	Until 1960
Playing range
Related instruments
Euphonium Baritone Horn Double horn Trombone Alto horn Tuba

The double bell euphonium is an instrument based on the euphonium that has a second bell that emulates a sound such as a baritone horn or trombone that is mainly used for special effects, such as echoes.

Construction

The last valve on the horn (either the fourth or the fifth, depending upon the model) is used to switch the sound from the main bell to the secondary bell. Both bells cannot play at the same time because each bell usually has its own tuning slide loop, such that they can be matched adequately for consistent performance. Unlike the double horn, there is only one set of valve slides with a double bell euphonium, so only the basic pitch of the two bells can be matched.

History of the double bell euphonium

The last double bell euphoniums were made around 1960. In practice, most double bell models ended up being used with the large bell only, effectively a very heavy single bell euphonium. About the second bell, famous euphonium soloist Arthur W. Lehman once said during a Marine Band concert, "We use it to hold our white gloves when we are not wearing them."

Soloists

Simone Mantia used to play a double-bell euphonium as a virtuoso. During being part of the Sousa and Pryor Bands, Simone at times favoured the double-belled euphonium and he even composed "Priscilla" (in tribute to Jane Priscilla Sousa), a double-bell euphonium solo.^[1]

References

1. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-juUrSD64CA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL