The euphonium is a brass instrument with a large bell, conical bore, and a powerful, velvety sound. The euphonium’s consistent tenor sound and wide range allow it to be used in wind and brass bands, brass quintets, and other ensembles. The euphonium’s lyrical capabilities ensure that it plays a prominent role in brass band music such as John Philip Sousa’s marches, while in some ensembles it may play a tenor role similar to that of the cello in a string quartet. In recent years, a variety of euphonium music, including solo compositions, has increasingly emphasized the instrument’s range and tone. The euphonium has been used in jazz and a few rock bands since the late twentieth century.
The euphonium’s origins can be traced back to the serpent instrument and a later instrument known as the ophicleide. Its sound is more consistent than its predecessors, and it’s been dubbed the “brass cello,” as it provides the tenor voice in wind and brass ensembles. The euphonium’s wide range makes it suitable for a lyrical role, which has been exploited by composers of brass band music, allowing a wide range of euphonium music to be heard in brass bands and other ensembles. Since the late twentieth century, the euphonium has played a prominent role in marching bands and as a solo instrument for which many compositions have been written.
Although euphonium music has appeared in orchestral works such as Gustav Holst’s The Planets Suite, the euphonium has not traditionally been used as an orchestral instrument. In modern orchestras, the euphonium is frequently substituted for the Wagner tuba. The euphonium serves as the tenor voice in a brass quintet. A tuba-euphonium ensemble is another example of the instrument. The instrument has occasionally been seen in rock bands, and Don McGlashan, a musician who has played in the Mutton Birds and the Bell Birds, among other bands, has frequently used it in this context.
Some jazz music from the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries includes euphonium music. Rich Matteson, a tuba and euphonium player in jazz, achieved a high level of artistry despite the fact that his recordings were “on the Oblivion Label and are available at your local Fat Chance record store,” as he put it. Despite his accomplishments, the euphonium has never achieved the same level of recognition in jazz as the saxophone or trumpet.