Posted by Shon on July 08, 2001 at 09:34:30:
In Reply to: Euphonium: Bb or C??? posted by Ben Garrison on July 07, 2001 at 15:44:10:
Here's a point that hasn't been mentioned explicitly. There are two different concepts being discussed here: the pitch of the instrument and the pitch of the music commonly read by the instrument. Again, these are two different concepts. The pitch of the instrument is the pitch of its fundamental (no valves down for brass instruments; a certain fingering combination for woodwinds).
Almost all euphoniums in the world are Bb. Their fundamental pitch (no valves down) is Bb.
Euph music parts are most commonly either concert pitch (C) bass clef parts or Bb treble clef parts.
In fact, almost all bass clef parts (for any instrument) are in concert pitch (C). Only treble clef parts are commonly written in some other pitch and the parts usually match the predominate pitch of the instrument (eg, Bb for trumpet and clarinet, F for french horn, Eb for alto sax, etc).
In summary, bass clef parts are almost always (99.99%) C parts, but can be played on any pitched instrument (BBb tuba, Bb euphonium, CC tuba, F tuba, Eb tuba, Eb contra-alto clarinet, Bb contra-bass clarinet, etc). Just because you play a bass clef C part doesn't mean your instrument is pitched in C.
The reasons for all of this are another issue.