Shires euphonium

[ChristianeSparkle]

From SE Shire's post, I saw the hashtag #Q41, so I am guessing she picked the Q41.

Thought she would be getting the Custom series.

[davewerden]

For a Willson artist to switch to Shires is not surprising, since its development involved a lot of Willson players as advisers. Hiram Diaz (Marine Band) told me he likes his Shires better than his Willson!

[Nbnarcisi]

I am certainly NOT in the same league of performance as you Dave as well as most on this forum, but at this point, I am using my Shires Q40 more than the Neo, especially for solo work when one has to stand. To me, it’s a superb instrument.

[MichaelSchott]

For a Willson artist to switch to Shires is not surprising, since its development involved a lot of Willson players as advisers. Hiram Diaz (Marine Band) told me he likes his Shires better than his Willson!

Good point. Maybe Shires has targeted the 2900 which has had a long history in the service bands and with students of Dr. Bowman. It’s iconic in the concert band world. But as we know it has intonation quirks and many say it’s sound is not as flexible as the competition. If Shires has done a better job, we could see more of this.

[franz]

Hello everyone: first of all best wishes to everyone for a happy 2020
I am noticing that the new euphoniums Shires are getting more and more acclaim. Norwegian artist Bente Illevold has recently moved from Willson to Shires: Brandon Jones has also joined the S.E. Shires team of artists and clinicians. Listening to the sound of the Shires, it looks more like Willson sound than Adams. I'd like to know how the Shires Q41 compares to the Adams E3 0,7.

[guidocorona]

Like Brandon Jones, Bente Illevold is now a Shires euphonium artist. Bente has recently adopted a Shires Q41 in silver plate sporting a large receiver. Her Mouthpiece is a Doug Elliott Euph 103 H* H9.

In an email this morning, Bente has shared with me her enthusiasm for her new euph, and has given me permission to share her observations on this forum.

While she aptly reminded me that “it`s all about the musician behind the horn. You can`t find a horn that gives you everything, but you can find a horn that handles everything you give&#”, here are Bente Illevold’s observations:

“I love the intonation in the Shires Q41. It’s incredible and the best I ever experienced in an euphonium!

I also love the tone quality. I often think that people on Willson sound the same, sort of your horn is forcing you to sound in a specific way - the sort
Of traditional military band way of playing in my perspective.
So I wanted to get a horn that allows me to sound the way I want, and where I can shape colors the way I want.
I find the Shires amazing that way.
I also love the valves, both easy and clean.

Shires plays really easy, and for me it’s a perfect horn Or, the closest you’ll get to perfect!”

Meantime, Bente is progressively posting her Q41 videos on YouTube. Yesterday she contributed her latest clip: Three Songs by Edvard Grieg. You will find it, together with her wonderful performance of her own transcription for euphonium and piano of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo’ Theme, on her channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/hattifnatt111

Saluti, Guido

[davewerden]

...While she aptly reminded me that “it`s all about the musician behind the horn. You can`t find a horn that gives you everything, but you can find a horn that handles everything you give&#”...

That is a very concise way to say it!

AND, thanks for getting her permission to quote her! Sometimes people express opinions in private that they would not want public, and it is always best to check.

[bbocaner]

I played a concert and a recording session last summer with Brandon Jones when he got his and it sounded wonderful. Unfortunately, the Q41 Shires brought with them to TUSABTEW sold almost instantly (to Laura Lineberger) so I didn't have a chance to try one for myself there. I also recently heard Hiram Diaz play a joint recital with Tormod Flaten. Hiram was playing the Q41 and Tormod a Besson. Their sounds were extremely similar, more so than I would have guessed they would be, with the Besson being a little more focused. I preferred Tormod's sound, but only just slightly -- and, of course, he was working that tuning trigger very hard! The instrument isn't the only factor there, but Hiram is one of my absolute favorite players.

I see also that Shires was teasing a Custom euphonium (all US-made) on their social media accounts, so that must be coming soon as well.

[guidocorona]

Hello Barry, last week I asked Alexis at Shires about the hinted Custom Series euphonium.

She suggested that it might be ready sometimes next year.

Such Custom eupho would be apparently completely manufactured at Shires in the us. Apparently it would largely follow the design of Q40/Q41, but would offer a variety of user-selectable options, yet unspecified.

Price is TBD, and would be somewhat higher than Q-series euphos.

Saluti, Guido

[bbocaner]

Link here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jTOBKF..._web_copy_link

As someone who has bought (and now sold off) at least seven new Shires trombones, I don't think I'd buy another Shires instrument at this point regardless of how good they were -- but it's fun to see what they've made.

[guidocorona]

Posted some 12 hours ago, a new clip with Bente Illevold on her Q41...

Cosma Euphonium Concerto, 2nd movement (andantino):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwJaUfcRx1k

Saluti, G.

[Hiramdiaz1]

Hi all! I wanted to share a link to my performance of the Kevin Day euphonium concerto on the Shires Q41. Enjoy, and please let me know if you have any questions! Mouthpiece is an Ivan Giddings creation, so good I decided to use it for the concerto just 3 weeks before.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GIwpAMblpL8

[davewerden]

Thanks for posting it, Hiram! I hope everyone takes time to listen to it. This performance is a doozy!! (I'm watching "Hazel" right now, so doozy seemed like a good word to describe an outstanding performance!)

[Clutch]

I was there for that. The performance was AMAZING! I was beyond impressed by both the piece and the performance.
I'm sure that Hiram is being humble, and not to take anything away from the other soloists, but I will also add that he was the only person who got a standing ovation at the end of his piece.

[dsurkin]

I was there for that. The performance was AMAZING!

I listened to it on YouTube and I agree that it was amazing. Coincidentally, YouTube automatically queued up another video right after that - Demondrae Thurman playing the same piece!