|
|
Our Instruments We thought it might be interesting to tell a little bit about our instruments. The normal instrumentation of a brass quintet is 2 trumpets, a trombone, a french horn and a tuba. Our instrumentation is a little different. Instead of 2 trumpets, we have a trumpet and a cornet. We do have a trombone. Instead of a french horn and tuba, we have a double-belled baritone and a euphonium. While this grouping of instruments presents challenges as far as arranging music parts, we like the mix and the distinctive voices.  Brian's euphonium
When my son, Nick, began playing cornet, I wanted to play along with him as I had with his two older sisters (percussion and violin). However, I thought, "Gee, we have all these soprano voice instruments. It sure would be nice to have a bass instrument when we play together as a family." I looked around at tubas, baritones and euphoniums (euphonia?). I decided on the euphonium for two reasons. One, it's not quite as large and hard to move around as a tuba would be; and two, the conical bore matched Nick's first cornet. So, a few hours later on E-bay, I'd ordered my first brass instrument. It's been great to take around as our family has gone "caroling" at Christmas time from house to house with our "family band" (clarinet, flute, mellophone, cornet, euphonium and sleigh bells).  Nick's cornet
Nick's first cornet didn't start out as his. The people who lived across the street from his family held a garage sale one day and were selling a cornet for $30, so, in the family's continuing quest to fill the house with instruments, they purchased it. A year or so later, Nick began playing it. When he started 8th grade, it was time to get a new horn. They ordered a Bach Stradivarius Professional Cornet in July of 2007. After several months...it finally arrived! And since it took so long, Nick named it: Cornelius.  Russ's Trombone
About my horn...the Conn 88H Artist Symphony is the most widespread professional symphonic trombone in the US and Europe. In the 90s, Conn redesigned the horn (called the 88H GEN2) with an open wrap and a CL2000 Fvalve that is a patented design that opens horizontally rather than vertically. It also comes with interchangeable lead pipes for various mouthpiece taperings. I was in the market for a new horn and tried the GEN2, but did not like the feel of it, so...I had my old 88H retooled with new inner slide plating and complete refinishing.  Molly's Trumpet
More to come later...  Joe's Double Belled Baritone
This one is really interesting... |
|