Euphonium

The Euphonium (ユーフォニアム) is a member of the brass family and the titular instrument of ''Hibike! Euphonium'', and the instrument of which the main character, Kumiko Oumae, plays. A person who plays the euphonium is sometimes called a euphoniumist, euphophonist, or a euphonist.

Baritone Horn
The Baritone Horn is similar to a euphonium and uses a similar fingering system. The euphonium, tuba, baritone horn and alto/tenor horn are shaped similarly, but in different sizes. In size comparison, the euphonium is smaller than the tuba, but bigger than the baritone horn. Together, the euphonium, baritone horn, and alto/tenor horn are all part of the saxhorn family of instruments.

Scoring
The euphonium is used in symphonies, orchestras, school bands, and marching bands. It can be played in either bass or treble clef, with the bass clef written in concert pitch as a C instrument, and the treble clef being written in B♭ sounding a major ninth, which is an octave plus a whole step, lower than written. This change in clef does not affect the way the instrument sounds, it is simply different between sheet music. It is a non-transposing instrument known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, a variety of character and agility.

Notable orchestral pieces of music that call for the instrument include Gustav Holst's The Planets, Richard Strauss' Don Quixote, and Dmitri Shostakovich's The Golden Age.

As portrayed in Hibike! Euphonium
There are three students that play the euphonium in Kitauji High School Concert Band: In Oath's Finale, a new euphonium player, Kanade Hisaishi, joins the ensemble.
 * Kumiko Oumae
 * Asuka Tanaka - Principal Euphonium and Bass Section Leader
 * Natsuki Nakagawa

In Kumiko's third year, Maya Kuroe joins as a euphonium player.

Additionally, Masakazu Shindou, one of the judges at the All-Japan Band Competition, is a world-famous euphonium player.

Trivia

 * In the United States euphoniums are often confused with baritone horns while in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe it is confused with alto/tenor horns. This confusion is caused by the minute differences in the instruments and as such they are usually interchangeable in music.
 * Kumiko's and Kanade's euphonium is based on Yamaha YEP-621 model.
 * Asuka's euphonium is based on Yamaha YEP-621S model.
 * Natsuki's euphonium is based on Yamaha YEP-321 model.