Pure Euphonium

 Today is euphonium quartet day!

I’m going to be highlighting 3 quartets that featuring the same instrument, our beloved euphonium. These quartets sometimes stray away from using 4 euphoniums but the pieces we’re going to examine today all feature that sweet sweet dark chocolate sound. It’s pure euphonium!

I also want to clarify the difference between euphonium choir and quartet. A few weeks ago, I wrote about Ben Roundtree’s piece CHARGE for euphonium choir. That was a piece written specifically for multiple people on the same part. Today the music we’ll listen to is written and arranged with quartets in mind. The textures are thinner and the sonorities are, generally, not as intense at the choir. So with that.. onward.

Eufonix

Eufonix is essential euphonium quartet listening because they were first. Made up of Aaron Tindall, Danny Helseth, Patrick Stuckemeyer, and the late Kelly Thomas the group was formed in 2008. Unfortunately, the quartet has been dormant since the sudden passing of Thomas in 2015. I actually had the opportunity to perform with Eufonix at one of their last gigs at NERTEC in 2015. 

The quartet released 3 CDs in just the span of 6 years, adding dozens of new arrangements and original compositions for euphonium quartet to the repertoire. Even though all 4 members are euphonium players, Tindall often doubled on Tuba while the others stayed on euphonium. Occasionally Thomas would double on tuba, to form a true tuba/euphonium quartet. But, as I said, today we’re main-lining euphonium.

Here is an arrangement of the jazz standard “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square”

This arrangement was done by Thomas for the quartet. It follows the same form and harmonic structure as the iconic arrangement by Gene Purling sung by the jazz vocal quartet Manhattan Transfer. 

The transposition of euphoniums in place of voices is an inspired choice. The blend is impeccable throughout and Thomas shines when he adds small jazz inflections onto the melody. The one questionable choice, for me, is on the last note. Purling’s chord voicings make every chord ring and the voice leading satisfying. The high 3rd doesn’t make the chord lock as well as it should. But all in all, this is a fantastic recording that highlights all the best things about euphonium quartet.

FivE

I’m aware that I’m biased, but this is my favorite euphonium quartet. 

FivE is a euphonium quartet that I helped found in 2012. Frankly, the group was directly inspired by Eufonix and the buzz around euphonium ensembles. The group is made up us myself, Dr. Alex Avila, Luke Gall, and Mitch Mest. 

Our debut, and only, album was released in fall of 2017 and features a few original pieces, but mostly is arrangements or transcriptions popular music and some other random things, like a barbershop quartet. 

This arrangement of When You Wish Upon A Star is done by Dr. Sean Durkin. Dr. Durkin was a friend of ours during the quartet’s inception at Penn State and is a very accomplished jazz trombonist and arranger. 

The arrangement highlights each member of the ensemble and is representative of that euphonium quartet sound that we loved about Eufonix. The original version of this was premiered in our very first show called NEON which was performed throughout 2015. 

North Texas Euphonium Quartet

The North Texas Euphonium Quartet was formed in 2013 by euphonium players Chris MicGinty, Dr. Irving Ray, Vince Kenney, and Dr. Danny Chapa. At the time they were all graduate students at the University of North Texas. 

The quartet has gone on to perform across the US at conferences, workshops, and universities. Each of the members has their own career as euphonium players and/or teachers, in addition to their quartet experience. 

This recording of Debussy’s The Girl with the Flaxen Hair was recorded live at the Texas Tech University. It is the third and final example of that great euphonium quartet sound. 

The highlight of this performance is the stellar high playing. I’m not sure which member of the group that is, but it is some of the most artful upper range maneuvering I’ve ever heard.

So that’s it! Euphonium quartet, eject. You can go listen to some other music now, probably with more diverse textures and overtones. I hope you enjoy this dark chocolate smoothie!

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Today’s pop culture clip might be my favorite one that I’ve covered so far. 

2 of the most recognizable celebrities, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert, discuss learning the baritone horn (which Carell properly calls a EUPHONIUM in passing) and they sing a VERY legit baritone part to the classic march Anchor’s Away.

The entire conversation is lovely, but the main part is the first 2.5 minutes. ENJOY.