The Mystery of the Euphonium: Understanding Its Dual Clefs
Bass Clefs, Treble Clefs, and Tenor Clefs. Oh my!
The euphonium is a unique and often misunderstood instrument, even among experienced musicians. Over the years, I’ve encountered many questions about it: Is it called a euphonium or a baritone? Why don’t we see euphoniums in orchestras? Should the bell face forward or up? Does it have three or four valves? And what exactly is a compensating euphonium?
One of the most intriguing questions, and the one we’ll explore today, is: Why is euphonium music written in both treble and bass clef?