What the Heck Is a Euphonium?
Originally composed for solo piano, Modest Mussorgsky’s classic Pictures at an Exhibition was so unique and charismatic that the French composer Maurice Ravel was inspired to arrange it for orchestra. In Ravel’s transcription, Mussorgsky’s pianistic pallet of rhythmic and harmonic “colors” was transformed into a brilliant example of “orchestration”, the mixing of the many colors capable by a large orchestra.
Portraying ten different scenes, the fourth movement is titled “Bydlo” (cattle) was scored for a tuba but it is often performed on an instrument called a euphonium.
Which prompts the question “What is a Euphonium?” Naturally one heads for Wikipedia, the handy, but hardly definitive, source of all knowledge. In a meticulous but confusing description of the euphonium one learns that it is a member of the family of aerophones, familiarly associated with brass instruments such as the trumpet, trombone or tuba.
Leaping over the extensive discussion of the thickness of the metal of the instrument, the various numbers of valves and the numerous ways to notate the details of a written part such as: what clef?, what key?, transposing or not?, etc., one learns that the ancestors of a euphonium were the Serpent and the Ophicleide.
More engaging than explaining the details of the instrument is the fact that the euphonium was deemed “euphonious” in the 19th century derived from the ancient Greek word “euphonos” meaning “well-sounding” or “sweet-voiced.” Less comfortable is Wikipedia’s attempt to define what to call a musician who plays a euphonium. Following the general practice of describing a person who plays, for instance, the piano (pianist), or the flute (flutist), Wikipedia suggests euphoniumist, a euphonist, a euphophonist or simply “a euphonium player.” Most people prefer the latter!
But enough of scholarship!
A Baby Tuba
Ravel’s orchestration is a brilliant pairing of the original solo piano score composed by Mussorgsky (featuring fascinating, quirky themes, rhythms and harmonies), with all of the resources of a large orchestra including a tuba solo in a register so high that it is often performed on a euphonium, sometimes referred to as a “baby tuba.”
The symphony’s performance on November 2 will feature Michael Dolin, the symphony’s principal trombonist, who will set aside his trombone and perform on a euphonium for the movement titled “Bydlo” which effectively depicts the image of a slow, lumbering oxcart. There are very few solos written for the euphonium, however it is becoming increasingly appreciated and Bydlo is a wonderful opportunity to hear its rich “euphonious” sound.
As for the ancestors of the modern euphonium, the Serpent and the Ophicleide, a discussion of those instruments will be reserved for the time that the San Luis Obispo Symphony plays a work that incudes those instruments.
Which will be never but one can look them up in Wikipedia!