What is the difference between a euphonium and a baritone horn?

Answer 1

As with so many questions, the answer is, "It depends." :-)

Here's my understanding--in British brass bands, they are two distinct instruments. The big difference is in the degree to which they tend to be "cylindrical" or "conical" in their diameter from mouthpiece to bell. A cylindrical-bore instrument (such as Trumpet or Trombone) keeps the same diameter throughout much of its length before it reaches the bell flare; a conical-bore instrument (such as horn or tuba) expands in diameter gradually throughout much of its length.

The cylindrical-bore instruments have a brighter, more edgy sound, while the conical-bore instruments sound more mellow. Back to your question: the British "baritone" is a cylindrical-bore instrument, and the British "euphonium" is a conical-bore instrument (also usually with a bigger bore to begin with). In British brass band music, the baritone tends to be used more as a solo instrument, where the euphonium tends to be kept paired with the tubas. Other than that, they are usually pitched in the same key, and they finger the same. The trumpet and cornet are perhaps a more familiar example of the same thing--the trumpet is cylindrical-bore, where the cornet is conical-bore, thus accounting for the different sounds.

Here's the catch--in the U.S., a lot of us use the terms "baritone" and "euphonium" interchangeably, probably because U.S. bands tend not to use the British "baritone" at all. (We don't have this kind of confusion with the terms "trumpet" and "cornet" because both are familiar in the U.S.) I usually call our conical-bore instruments "euphoniums", as the British do, since that seems to be the best way to avoid confusion.

I've attached links to Besson's web site where you can see the difference between the British instruments.

A baritone horn is slightly smaller than a euphonium. It is closer in size to alto/tenor horn, and therefore the Euphonium has a darker tone. The Baritone and Euphonium have the same pitch, same fingerings and read the same music, they just produce differing tones. Euphonium also tend to have a wider bell. The main distinguishing factor in America is a Euphonium has a conical bore (the pipe gets larger as it goes through the horn) where as a baritone has a cylindrical Bore (the pipe stays the same diameter all the way through the instrument, until it reaches the bell). This give a Euphonium a mellower sound than a baritone.

Answer 2

No. The tuba plays a full octave below the baritone (maybe two octaves, I can't remember). Also, baritone players typically read treble cleff music, but tuba players read bass cleff, and baritone is not a concert pitch instrument. On the other hand, the euphonium is a concert instrument and plays bass cleff music. However, that said, some baritone players can read bass cleff music.

Answer 3

I assume you're referring to the baritone horn, or euphonium, and the RANGE of notes played. Obviously, since a tuba is bigger and is longer, though curled about, the tuba can play "lower" notes than the baritone horn, and the baritone can subsequently play "higher" notes as it is smaller. Notes in each instrument's mid-range should be able to be played by both. They are both "C" instruments (if reading bass clef for the baritone). If reading from the treble clef, notes would need to be transposed as in this case fingerings would be the same as with a trumpet/cornet.

Answer 4

Mostly, except that baritones are smaller in size than euphoniums.

Answer 5

no, a euphonium is pretty much a baritone

a susaphone is probably what you're thinking of

Answer 6

euphonium and baritone are very similar in sound but a baritone keys are in the front of the interment, but the key on the europium are like those of a tuba.

Answer 7

No the tuba is much larger and produces a lower pitch than the baritone.

Answer 8

Two different names for the same instrument.