Posted by Joe S. on June 11, 1999 at 21:30:49:
In Reply to: need info on miraphone oval euphonium posted by monica on June 11, 1999 at 10:17:47:
Well, they are/were expensive, that's for sure. R. Winston Morris used to (maybe he still does[?]) use them in his world-famous Tennessee Tech Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble. All of his students owned "British"-style euphoniums, but Winston liked the oval Mirafones because of their LACK of richness of sound, and for their CLARITY of pitch (over beauty of "tone"). He thought that Besson-esque euphoniums sounded too rich in the low-pitched ensemble, and that the Mirafone ovals allowed all of the inner parts to be heard with more clarity.
To me, their sound resembles that of regular American "baritone"s, like Conn, King, Olds, etc. Admittedly, the Mirafones are FUN, and if you have an opportunity to get one at a low cost, go for it.