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cornet74 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 504
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:51 pm Post subject: Tenor Horn players here?? |
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I ask this question from time to time. It has always been my suspicion that Brit cornet players at all levels play the tenor horn from time to time to relax their chops and take a break from the rigors of the cornet.
I've always thought that the tenor horn is to the Brit cornet player what the flugelhorn is to the American trumpet player, although I realize the flug is an important brass band instrument in its own right.
I have a Yamaha 203 which I preferred over the pro model, probably because it's easier to play. As for mouthpieces, I always seem to come back to my standard silver plate Wick 5, but I also like the VB 12 as well as the Yamaha 37C4.
I also have a Wick wooden straight mute that produces a beautiful sound, when I'm in shape. And unlike the valve trombone which can play havoc with my trumpet chops, these three tenor horn mpcs don't hurt me; in fact after playing hard over a long period of time on trumpet or cornet I find playing on the tenor horn to be a great way to loosen some things up.
Just saw an interesting masterclass by Owen Farr as well has hearing his version of Carnival of Venice, which is superb. I've always preferred him to Sheona White. Something about her vibrato that doesn't click with me although she is a wonderful player of the instrument.
I'd be interested in other people's experiences with the tenor horn.
Thank you. _________________ Now:
Yamaha 203 Tenor Horn
Bach, Wick, Yamaha Mouthpieces
Wick Wooden Tenor Horn Straight Mute |
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B_Starry Heavyweight Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2002 Posts: 903 Location: Lake Norman
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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I have/play a Yamaha YAH202 alto horn, mostly to cover middle voices in church when a trombone or (French) horn is unavailable. Very easy to play, in comparison to trumpet and cornet, with a pleasant tone quality. It has its own intonation quirks, but no more so than any trumpet, IMO. It is also an easy switch for treble clef guys to read and play bass clef charts.
I use a Bach 6 mp, btw. As you've noted, the Eb horn does help relax the chops after a hard day of playing Bb.
I wonder why Yamaha chose the YAH model nomenclature rather than YTH? _________________ do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God |
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harleyt26 Veteran Member
Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 107 Location: Summerfield, Fl.
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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I have two Conn 2F Bb Tenor Horns, a 1918 and a 1927. I just play around on them at home, but as you said they are a fun change from cornet or trumpet. I have a Wick 5 and a original to the 1918 2F marked Alto Deep mouthpiece. I find the Wick more comfortable but the Alto Deep has a distinctive sound I like. _________________ Thank you,
Tom Hodges |
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TKSop Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2014 Posts: 1735 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:42 am Post subject: |
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I tend to use flugel as a break from sop (though not often, once or at most twice a month if I've really overcooked it).
I have a tenor horn lying around somewhere (think its an Imperial? been quite some time since it saw light of day), as you've brought up the question, I think I'll give it a go |
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Rapier232 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Aug 2011 Posts: 1323 Location: Twixt the Moor and the Sea, UK
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:29 am Post subject: |
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I used to play Tenor Horn as my main instrument. Sovereign and then bought the very first Neo sold in Europe. Have had lessons with Owen Farr, really nice guy. I gave up Brass Bands and moved to orchestral trumpet instead. Swapped the Neo for an Eclipse flugel. _________________ "Nearly as good as I need to be. Not nearly as good as I want to be".
Smith-Watkins Bb
Will Spencer Bb
Eclipse Flugel
Smith Watkins K2 Cornet
JP152 C Trumpet
Besson Bugle |
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cornet74 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 504
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 11:31 am Post subject: |
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Rapier232 wrote: | I used to play Tenor Horn as my main instrument. Sovereign and then bought the very first Neo sold in Europe. Have had lessons with Owen Farr, really nice guy. I gave up Brass Bands and moved to orchestral trumpet instead. Swapped the Neo for an Eclipse flugel. |
Very interesting post. I love Farrs playing and have watched some of his situational you tubes. Most people okay the cornet than retire into the tenor horn. You've done the opposite!! _________________ Now:
Yamaha 203 Tenor Horn
Bach, Wick, Yamaha Mouthpieces
Wick Wooden Tenor Horn Straight Mute |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8914 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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It's only second hand experience but a good friend who has had endurance issues on trumpet has discovered that she has unexpected range and endurance on the tenor horn.
And as a curious aside, I've recently returned to dabbling on the French horn. And while I wouldn't call the French Horn easy (pesky close harmonics), I also find I have unexpected range and endurance on it. Even way more so than on the flugel.
There's just no sugar-coating it, trumpet/cornet is a cruel instrument. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart |
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chuck in ny Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 3597 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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cheiden wrote: | It's only second hand experience but a good friend who has had endurance issues on trumpet has discovered that she has unexpected range and endurance on the tenor horn.
And as a curious aside, I've recently returned to dabbling on the French horn. And while I wouldn't call the French Horn easy (pesky close harmonics), I also find I have unexpected range and endurance on it. Even way more so than on the flugel.
There's just no sugar-coating it, trumpet/cornet is a cruel instrument. |
now you've gone and shattered all my illusions.
trumpet/cornet players are the bare knuckle fighters of the music scene. |
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p76 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 1070 Location: The Golden City of OZ
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Oh say it ain't so!! Surely a rest in the second-row cornets would be enough, but moving to the dark side??
Tenor Horn is a retirement home for cornet players....I'm not ready to go there yet.
Having said that I recently had a blow on our band's new Neo Tenor Horn, and it truly is a beautiful instrument.
Cheers,
Roger _________________ Bb - Selmer Radial, Yamaha YTR634, Kanstul 1001, Kanstul 700.
C - Yamaha 641.
Cornet - Olds Ambassador A6T, Besson 723, Olds Ambassador Long.
Flugel - Kanstul 1525
Mpc. - ACB 3CS, ACB 3ES, Curry 3BBC, Kanstul FB Flugel |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8914 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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p76 wrote: | Oh say it ain't so!! Surely a rest in the second-row cornets would be enough, but moving to the dark side?? |
In my case it did come with the chance to show up the regular F Horn players. So there's that. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart |
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p76 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 1070 Location: The Golden City of OZ
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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cheiden wrote: | In my case it did come with the chance to show up the regular F Horn players. So there's that. |
"like"
Cheers,
Roger _________________ Bb - Selmer Radial, Yamaha YTR634, Kanstul 1001, Kanstul 700.
C - Yamaha 641.
Cornet - Olds Ambassador A6T, Besson 723, Olds Ambassador Long.
Flugel - Kanstul 1525
Mpc. - ACB 3CS, ACB 3ES, Curry 3BBC, Kanstul FB Flugel |
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mm55 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1412
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 5:50 am Post subject: |
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There are enough brass players at my day job that we sometimes get together to read some quintets. Often, there's a surfeit of trumpet players and no horn player, so I bring my Eb alto horn (as they are called in the USA), and try to sight-read the F Horn part. For me, it's a lot easier than trying to play it on a French horn, since the partials are farther apart on the alto horn, and I don't have to work the valves with my left hand.
The horn is a King "Altonium" (spell check wants me to spell it "Plutonium"), which takes a French horn mouthpiece, and sounds more like a French horn than most other alto (or tenor) horns do. Some day I may track down the optional slide(s) to make it play in F, which will make for fewer transposition errors.
It's also a nice horn for blues jams, and when they hear the sound, the guitar players always want me to play "You Can't Always Get What You Want", Al Kooper's most famous (only?) horn solo. |
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Pablopiccasso Veteran Member
Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 204
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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I have my Chinese made "Parrot"Eb tenor horn from my school days in the loft. It cost UK£61 in about 1974. I haven't played it for a long time but the valves still work, and blows ok in all ranges. Use a Dennis wick mouthpiece which was bought later and cost more than the horn |
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pocketmaster Regular Member
Joined: 20 Sep 2015 Posts: 47 Location: fontana, ca
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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My vintage Conn Eb alto horn is my main axe now. I play around with a pocket cornet and pocket trumpet. Never played a trumpet or standard cornet either. I like the tone of the alto horn. I'm using a wick heritage 1 mpc and a Jupiter mpc. I can't find any alto/tenor horn groups at all. _________________ Kanstul kmb290 marching baritone.
Benge pocket trumpet
Kanstul 905 pocket trumpet
Pocket Máx
K&H pocket cornet
Conn altohorn |
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Louise Finch Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2012 Posts: 5467 Location: Suffolk, England
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:17 am Post subject: Re: Tenor Horn players here?? |
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cornet74 wrote: | I ask this question from time to time. It has always been my suspicion that Brit cornet players at all levels play the tenor horn from time to time to relax their chops and take a break from the rigors of the cornet.
I've always thought that the tenor horn is to the Brit cornet player what the flugelhorn is to the American trumpet player, although I realize the flug is an important brass band instrument in its own right.
Hi cornet74
Although an old thread resurrected, I thought that I'd answer this time. I personally am not aware of any British cornet players who play tenor horn from time to time to relax their chops and take a break from the rigors of the cornet. I know of one player who occasionally plays tenor horn, but she bought it as she found it easier to play whilst pregnant, and uses it currently from time to time to dep on tenor horn when required.
Although a lot of British cornet players also play trumpet and often flugel, and also play different styles in varying ensembles, I know just as many who only play cornet in a brass band.
Regarding playing flugel to relax the chops, I can only speak for myself, in that I don't do this. I personally do all my practice on either cornet or trumpet, depending on the current gig schedule, and rightly or wrongly do not practice the flugel. I however on play flugel on some tunes in my husband's Jazz Band. I would practice the flugel if I was for example to dep on flugel in a brass band.
Take Care
Lou
I have a Yamaha 203 which I preferred over the pro model, probably because it's easier to play. As for mouthpieces, I always seem to come back to my standard silver plate Wick 5, but I also like the VB 12 as well as the Yamaha 37C4.
I also have a Wick wooden straight mute that produces a beautiful sound, when I'm in shape. And unlike the valve trombone which can play havoc with my trumpet chops, these three tenor horn mpcs don't hurt me; in fact after playing hard over a long period of time on trumpet or cornet I find playing on the tenor horn to be a great way to loosen some things up.
Just saw an interesting masterclass by Owen Farr as well has hearing his version of Carnival of Venice, which is superb. I've always preferred him to Sheona White. Something about her vibrato that doesn't click with me although she is a wonderful player of the instrument.
I'd be interested in other people's experiences with the tenor horn.
Thank you. |
_________________ Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs |
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pocketmaster Regular Member
Joined: 20 Sep 2015 Posts: 47 Location: fontana, ca
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 10:29 am Post subject: |
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I like Tom Black a lot. He might be affiliated with Auckland city brass band. I believe he primarily plays a besson sovereign tenorhorn and mellophone. _________________ Kanstul kmb290 marching baritone.
Benge pocket trumpet
Kanstul 905 pocket trumpet
Pocket Máx
K&H pocket cornet
Conn altohorn |
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Bach37 New Member
Joined: 10 Jan 2016 Posts: 7
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 11:07 am Post subject: |
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I've played principal cornet and principal tenor horn with the local brass band for 8 years each. Switched to tenor horn because I was having some pain and swelling. Used a Besson 927 cornet with a Warburton 4BC/BC9 mouthpiece. For tenor horn I used a Willson with a Wick 1.
I took some time off, but now I'm playing in a concert band. Using my 1973 Bach 37 with a standard weight bell and a lightweight body. Bach 1C mouthpiece.
Recently played James Curnow's "Concertpiece" in November and December. |
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Iriani Regular Member
Joined: 20 Jul 2014 Posts: 24 Location: Kalispell, MT
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:44 am Post subject: Turn to the Dark Side to extend practice |
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Not much call for Tenor horn around here. While I usually play cornet, I started doubling on an alto horn in F to play French Horns solos in our little New Horizons band, that as yet has no French Horn players. I like it! Intonation is a beast on mine, an Olds Ambassador. But it is getting better as I strengthen my embouchure to play the Bach 3 mouthpiece. I prefer larger trumpet mouthpieces, so the transition isn't too tough. I can practice my cornet until I am tired, then renew and continue on the Alto Horn. And in that same vein, a desire to learn bass clef and play in Tuba Christmas resulted in the gift of a euphonium from my husband. So now I line all three instruments up and have a wonderful day in practice, because I can continue to play on the next lower instrument, going from Solo cornet, to French Horn to Euph music as I get tired. Had a rough year playing last year due to 5 dental surgeries to replace broken implants, each time taking 4-5 weeks off from playing per dentists orders. So I found the Euph and the Alto horn easier on my tender mouth, and more forgiving if I was wearing a retainer, than cornet, but they quickly got me back to playing cornet, by keeping up my breathing and reading speed, with little or no pressure on the bone graft areas near front teeth. I enjoy listening to tenor horn pieces. Our American alto horn is similar, but I imagine the tenor horn is a joy to play. _________________ Bach Strad 37
Olds Ambassador Fullerton Trumpet (junker for hazardous)
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Cornet
Curry DC cornet mpc
Olds Ambassador Los Angeles Cornet
Curry 3DC O cornet mpc
Olds Ambassador Alto Horn Eb and F slides |
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Andy Del Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 2665 Location: sunny Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:13 am Post subject: |
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My experience with tenor horn was in the 7th grade. The school art department made an installation, using al manner of metal scrap, including a few bits of brass instruments. There was the corpse of a tenor horn in there.
When it was taken down, it was being tossed out, so a few of us played a prank on our band director, taking the tenor horn and 'unwinding' it. We then left it on the shelf where the tenor horns usually sat. It looked a treat! (did I mention we had a brass band at our school?)
HE was not amused. The bruises healed pretty fast, and the emotional scars eventually... _________________ so many horns, so few good notes... |
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cornet74 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 504
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Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:51 am Post subject: |
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cheiden wrote: | It's only second hand experience but a good friend who has had endurance issues on trumpet has discovered that she has unexpected range and endurance on the tenor horn.
And as a curious aside, I've recently returned to dabbling on the French horn. And while I wouldn't call the French Horn easy (pesky close harmonics), I also find I have unexpected range and endurance on it. Even way more so than on the flugel.
There's just no sugar-coating it, trumpet/cornet is a cruel instrument. |
Your last sentence says it all... Nothing I could add to make your point any more clearer. _________________ Now:
Yamaha 203 Tenor Horn
Bach, Wick, Yamaha Mouthpieces
Wick Wooden Tenor Horn Straight Mute |
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