Performance mutes

[John Morgan]

Well, I suppose if you like the sound and the effect. I just never have liked muting a euphonium or a tuba. Gary is quite right with the tuba. Our last orchestra concert called for a muted tuba in one part for about 2 seconds. Hardly worth the effort, and the guy playing tuba had a terrible time getting the mute in and out. Just to play a couple notes that he could have just as easily played softly without a mute. He could have really used a "mute installer" to help him as Gary suggested. Mutes just don't do anything for me. I listened to the piece, Barry, and while I admit there are many different sounds, I just don't go for them. I know this is probably just me, but I can't warm up to a mute in a euphonium.

[DutchEupho]

Check out wallace mutes. They are my favorite by far!

[iiipopes]

To go with gmerrill's comment about drilling the mute is the cork. Adjusting the thickness of the cork is essential to balancing tone and tuning, and is a trial-and-error exercise that could take several tries to get the player's preference locked in.

Another purpose of a mute: When you have multiple euphs in community band, but no bassoon: have one player use a mute to cover the bassoon part when it is not doubling other low woodwinds or brass.

[ghmerrill]

Another purpose of a mute: When you have multiple euphs in community band, but no bassoon: have one player use a mute to cover the bassoon part when it is not doubling other low woodwinds or brass.

Yeah, I've done that with a mute in the bass trombone. Whether it's reasonable depends a lot on the nature of the bassoon passage, of course.

[RickF]

Well... looks like I’ll have to use a mute at our next two concerts. We’re playing Mark Camphouse’ piece, “A Movement for Rosa” — a tribute to Rosa Parks experience in 1955. The last few measures calls for a muted euph playing concert ‘E’ very softly for few measures. I brought it to rehearsal last night. After we finished I asked the MD if it’s really necessary since I think it might disturb the effective ending having me lift that silver colored ‘spittoon’ looking thing and inserting it in my bell. I noticed a number of band members looking so I’m sure the audience will notice. It’s really tight on stage with about 80 in the band. We’ll have a grand piano there too (for Rhapsody in Blue) which will add to the cramped space. The MD still wants it used. Maybe I can do it less obtrusively while the horn’s on my lap. We’ll see.

We’re playing this piece at the request of a long-time member (euphonium player) and former president of the band. He passed away a couple of months ago from pancreatic cancer. Cancer really blows.

U.S. Air Force Band, “A Movement for Rosa”:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycitqgtwdk0

[jakewillis]

Matt Jackfert wrote a super cool piece called Appalachian Impressions. In the beginning of the second movement, the Euphonium is muted with multi phonics and its one of the coolest sounds I’ve heard from a Euphonium.

https://m.soundcloud.com/mattjack/ap...snowy-thurmond

I actually didn’t think it was only euphonium and piano when I first heard it.