Re: Re: Where did alto horns come from ?


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Posted by Cazz on July 29, 1999 at 22:30:04:

In Reply to: Re: Where did alto horns come from ? posted by Todd on July 27, 1999 at 10:24:59:

Tom and Todd (postings above) are absolutely on the money!!

The legitimate home of the "alto horn" (termed the Tenor Horn in English English,
as opposed to American English) is in the British Style Brass Band. Such
bands contain the entire "saxhorn" family... soprano cornet (Eb), cornets (Bb)
Flugelhorn (Bb) Tenor Horns (the "alto horn" in question), Baritones++ (Bb),
Euphoniums, and Eb/EEb and Bb/BBb tubas....I am referring to BORE differences
here (saying "Eb/EEb") with the tubas, not octave differences.

Tenor horns have a light (some might say wimpy) sound, not at all like
french horns.

++ Baritones (and sometimes euphoniums) are referred to as "Tenor Horns"
in U.S. lingo, but that term is really not used for the Bb instrument
that is the same pitch as a tenor trombone by Brits and "colonials"
(us in Australia and N.Z., where brass bands are very popular).

Oh, Brass bands also have trombones...originally some regular Bb tenors, and
a G bass... the latter is certainly not popular nowadays.

The G bass trombone part was the only one scored (notated) in concert pitch
bass clef... all other instruments from soprano cornet to BBb tuba read
transposed treble clef... either Eb or Bb. That's how it's still done today,
and it's how I learned!

"Real" brass bands (this British style model) have a *slightly* higher profile
now, thanks to movies like Brassed Off and even The Full Monty. Grimethorpe
Colliery Band (featured in Brassed Off) has just completed a world tour.

Regards,

CAZZ




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