How to Write for the Baritone Horn
Writing for any instrument requires some basic knowledge of its range, how it is played, its sound and its place in an orchestra or the ensemble for which you choose to write. The baritone horn, also referred to as simply the baritone or sometimes replaced with a euphonium, is a brass instrument in the medium to low range. The baritone is often not featured as a soloist in ensembles, and is not a typical orchestral instrument, but military and marching bands use them often.
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Instructions
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Decide if the instrument you are using is a transposing or non-transposing instrument, depending on the preferences of your orchestra and performer. It is ideal to write the baritone part in both treble clef (for transposing instruments, for which you must write a major ninth higher than the sounding pitch) and bass clef (for non-transposing instruments).
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Memorize the range of the baritone. Do not write above or below the range. For beginning players, you may need to limit the range for which you write. The typical range of a baritone is the E below the bass clef staff up to a B-flat above middle C.
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Decide what part you want the baritone to play. Baritone parts often duplicate the part of a trumpet, trombone or tuba. You may also wish to give the baritone a solo part. Keep in mind the baritone is unable to play very quickly like a trumpet or woodwind, but its mellow sound might make it a better solo choice than a trombone or tuba. Unless you use a modern technique like polyphonics, the baritone can play only one note at a time.
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Write the part for the baritone. Double-check the range, and that you have written any transposing parts correctly.
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Listen to the part by itself, and be sure you have the part in the correct range for the sound you want. Listen to the part again in the ensemble if you are writing for a group. Edit the baritone part as necessary.
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References
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