C Baritone/Euphonium?

[CharlieCenTex]

Out of brass musicianship for 49 years, and I'm thinking of getting back into it. Started out on a trumpet (like MANY others) in fifth grade, but it was stolen after just a few months. A couple of years later, I tried again, but with baritone this time, reading treble clef only. Played through 7th-10th grades, then dedicated myself to vocal music (picking up guitar on the side). Played guitar, off and on, from then on. Picked up electric bass guitar around 2001, shifting from 4-string to 5-string around 2003.

Decided to try to find a C instrument last Christmas (after giving a C pocket trumpet as a Christmas present to my brother, who was a really skillful trumpeter in high school - mid-60's), so I could play over a piano player's shoulder, reading from his/her sheet music, probably sticking to the alto or tenor parts. I'd like to be able to play along w/o having to transpose on-the-fly, with my brother doing the same on the lead part/melody.

Having NO luck finding a C baritone or euph. Could someone point me in the right direction, please?

[davewerden]

Welcome to the forum!

There are some C euphoniums in the world, but they are extremely rare. 99% are made in the key of B-flat, so that the lowest natural open note is a B-flat concert.

HOWEVER, if you learn to read bass clef parts in euphonium, those parts are written in C. When we play in treble we are playing transposed parts, so our open note is written as C. But when playing in bass clef the part is written so our open note is a B-flat (and in the right octave as well).

That would allow you to read the tenor or bass parts in choral scoring, for example.

(Or you could buy your brother a B-flat trumpet!)

[bbocaner]

http://www.amati.cz/en/brasswind-ins.../226-aep-232av

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Professional...rn-with-Case-/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Brass-R...ium-Baritone-/

http://www.voigt-brass.de/gxshop/pro...-b-oder-c.html

Other than POSSIBLY the Jurgen Voigt, though, probably none of them are particularly good instruments. Learning Bb fingerings and how to transpose will take you a few weeks of practice and is a much better course of action.

[davewerden]

Wow - that 3rd link would be a nice visual pairing with a pocket trumpet!!

[jimpjorps]

It's not quite the same, but I've seen some valve trombones in C around. Yamaha, Jupiter and Wessex all have at least one model.

[CharlieCenTex]

Thanks, guys! Yeah, I've been thinking about the valve-bone; was just hoping for something that occupies a little less real estate. However, it looks like that will be my path (much less dinero than a quality euph).

I appreciate the responses, friends.

[tonewheeler]

My friend Noah Gladstone has been selling an Amati C Euphonium. It's been there for a long time.

Here is the link:
http://brassark.com/sale/

If that doesn't work go to brassark.com and then look in the used instrument link of his site.

I can vouch for Noah as a straight-up seller and buyer too.

I hope this helps.

Dan

[CharlieCenTex]

Disaster

My friend Noah Gladstone has been selling an Amati C Euphonium. It's been there for a long time.

Here is the link:
http://brassark.com/sale/

If that doesn't work go to brassark.com and then look in the used instrument link of his site.

I can vouch for Noah as a straight-up seller and buyer too.

I hope this helps.

Dan

Dan, thank you SO much. Unfortunately, I just had a major disaster with my car & it’s going to cost me several times that price to get it fixed. I’ll keep this in mind for when I recover from the car fiasco, if it’s still available.

Again, thanks.

[tonewheeler]

I'm sure it will still be available. Sorry about your car situation!