Playing music for the Tenor Voice of Singing on Euphonium

[PigLord]

Hello everyone,

I was just wondering about whether I would be able to play music that was written for a singer in the tenor voice on euphonium if I bought the version meant from singers. I know I would need to be able to read Treble Clef in C, but I am wondering if the ranges and other factors would work out. An example of pieces I was looking at messing around with are Bring Him Home and Music of the Night. Thank everyone so much for your time.

[RickF]

Sure, why not?

The tenor solo "Nessun Dorma" is the first one that comes to mind... which is often played on euph. Also, the tenor voice is usually (but not always) in bass clef. What ever the clef it will be in concert pitch.

"Nessun dorma" (English: None shall sleep)[1] is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot,[2] and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto (the unknown prince), who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded.

sent from iPad

[PigLord]

Thank you for your response Mr. Floyd. It is good to know that I have the option of playing such great songs that have been written for tenor singers. I will have to look at getting Nessun Dorma as well; it is such a wonderful and powerful piece.

[Snorlax]

Just note that tenor (voice) music should sound down an octave from where it is written. Just in case you didn't know that.

In many cases you will see tenor music written with an "8" below the treble clef.
So the C in the second space down in the tenor-treble clef is actually middle C (one line above the bass staff)

If you try to play it as is, you'll be living in my register!
Jim W.

[DaveBj]

I have sung tenor in both barbershop and gospel (Southern-Baptist) choirs. I think the euphonium is a perfect fit for playing solos written for the tenor voice. The typical high note for a tenor is a high C (octave above Middle C in concert pitch), so if you can pop one of those off now and then, you should be fine. Go for it!

[RexOdatis]

This would be slightly different from the classical voice types, which have a greater variety, ranging from Soprano and Mezzo Soprano to the Baritone and Bass.Other kinds of choirs include strictly male choirs, which can either have the traditional SATB voices with boys singing the upper part (Treble) and men singing the Alto part (Countertenor), or just with 2 Tenor parts, a Baritone and a Bass part (TTBB).

[highpitch]

The duet from "Deep Inside the Sacred Temple" by Bizet has been published for Euph. The Childs' did it at the Proms a couple years back, it is still on Youtube.

DDG

[EDITOR NOTE: here is a link to the video mentioned above - Childs Playing Sacred Temple / Pearl Fishers Duet]