I am an amateur trumpet player living in Canada. I’ve only recently started playing the euphonium. I stumbled across your TH-cam channel quite by accident and l must say that l thoroughly enjoy your videos. You have a very likeable way about you as well as a clever sense of humour. To say nothing of how informative you are. Keep up the good work. Incidentally l am almost seventy years old. Never too old to learn, eh?
The most famous user of the Mellophonium was Stan Kenton. He used them extensively in the late 50s and early 60s. And yes, they were the butt of many jokes from the rest of the brass section due to their intonation issues.
One of the Mellophonium players on the Kenton band was Ray Starling, a master musician whom I had the honor of working with in the late '60s in Detroit when he was playing piano. th-cam.com/video/f8XHd0tBuww/w-d-xo.html
The tuning problems do come from the bell, as you'd suspect. They really need a hand rummaging up the bell to fix the tuning problems. Oh wait, that's just a horn with half length tubing.
I play the alto saxophone in a band with three trumpets and one trombone and now I know why our band leader wanted to have an alto sax in the band, to fill in the "alto gap" love your videos, always learning something new :)
"Hornucopia" in San Carlos, California, where I bought my Getzen 700s, has at least two of those things. There's a hilarious account online - maybe on the Conn Loyalist site? - where a band member recalls one day with Stan Kenton's band, taking the mellophoniums and putting trumpet mouthpieces in, enabling them to make the most ungodly shrieks, and then one fine day dumping them into the hotel pool, where they sank, blub, blub, blub. They were made to fish them out, of course.
You forgot to mention the ultimate feature of the Conn Mellophonium: its massive honking .500" bore. Zig Stardust's rubbish abomination has nothing on that. I just snagged one of these on ebay for an embarrassingly low price, so I'm super excited to see how this differs from other alto thingers. Seems like a safe bet that "absurdly loud" makes the list of attributes. *edit* Cool, but underwhelming instrument, given its reputation. One of the best looking instruments ever invented. Huge dynamic contrast. Good but not earth shattering tone. Intonation isn't as bad as reputed, but you need to be able to blow to pitch. Pitch bends so well, you can play an entire song in the wrong key without anyone knowing that you're clamming. Ergonomics suck. Debatable how usable the high range is, but it's definitely there and not hard to get to. Opting out of using the stock Conn 1 mouthpiece could make a Mount Rushmore of bad ideas.
Old French Horn player here - I just acquired one of these, a 1970 edition. When it gets here, it'll be interesting to contrast it with my 1911 Conn concert mello.
This is the instrument that i was asking about yesterday. Another brass guy filled me in and then i wanted to hear more and led me back to you! You are really knowledgeable....i used to play french horn but when i first started we all learned on trumpets and cornets. I loved it. Hated lugging the case around. But weird instruments are so interesting. Its like a family tree with your wackadoodly cousin.
I have the oldest mellophonium in existence. I helped date the horns. I have the 3rd one made. Approximately made in March, 1956. Conn introduced them for sale in 1957. I have the original case as well. I love my horn. It takes a lot of omiture and practice to where you can play it in tune. :-)
Wow, amazing! Is there a serial number on it? I wonder what Conn did with their first instruments of experiments. Vocabells, Coprion bells, things like that. Did they all get a serial? Were they sold? Anybody?
@marten594 sorry I took so long to respond. My serial number is 611353. Made in 1956, 11th of March. The "5" in the serial number indicates the mellophonium classification. Then 3 would be the number of the horn made. There's also a list on the internet called Lar's list, which is a Conn serial number list, compiled by owners of conn instruments. The Conn headquarters had a fire that destroyed their records. The numbers they compiled are estimated to years. I hope that helps.
Those using it in the Stan Kenton orchestra support the instrument with their left hand cupping it at the bottom of the large coil. Not at the bottom center, but a little bit toward the bell.
According to what I have read, the mellophonium was built by the C. G. Conn corporation at the behest of Stan Kenton. He had tried using french horn players with his band, but the horn players of his day were unable to understand jazz phrasing, and phrase with the other sections of the band. The thought was that mellophoniums (mellophonia?) could be played by trumpet players who understood jazz phrasing. The mellophonium that I own (a wall decoration above my Kenton recordings) uses a trumpet mouthpiece. It also has an adapter to accept a french horn mouthpiece. Mellophoniums were marketed as marching band instruments, and enjoyed a brief vogue. They were eventually replaced by the marching mellophone seen on the wall. The original mellophone dates back to the 1920's or so, and looks like the mellophonium, but with the bell turned downward in a french horn shape. Some trumpet players in dance bands of that time doubled on mellophone.
The story that Stan Kenton invented the mellophonium or asked Conn to make it is an urban legend; it was already being marketed as a marching instrument when Kenton discovered it and picked it to use in his band. He tried French horns and flugelhorns and they didn't have the sound he was looking for.
Thanks for the correction. It's not the first time I've been complicit in passing along a popular falsehood (Arnold Jacobs actually had TWO lungs, not one, Salieri did not kill Mozart etc.). For what it's worth, a few years after the demise of the melophonium band, Stan Kenton formed the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra. This group had french horns rather than melophoniums. The french horn sound was what he and those that wrote for this group wanted. They finally found horn players that could play in the jazz idiom. Here's a link to a video of the Melophonium band in action: th-cam.com/video/xQbSlIrylkk/w-d-xo.html
@@jauch0 I met Arnold Jacobs in 85 after his lung surgery and recovery. He had one lung and still played better then anyone else. Also the only way to get horn players to swing is with a rope.
Thanks for an interesting video about this unusual instrument. It is listed in my 1965 Conn price list (complete outfit, including case) as 16E "Special" for US $310 to $330, depending upon the type of finish. The counterweight on the instrument makes me laugh--it's as if someone asked "Hey, what do we do about a counterweight? We need to design one" and the answer was "No, we'll just steal one from a trombone!"
When I studied band pageantry in the USA in 1966 I was required to compose arrangements for marching band. The instructor told the class to not write parts for marching French horns, but to use mellophones instead. When I wrote for alto trumpet in F, instead of mellophone, he loved it. I think it was the only time I saw him happy. I had never seen nor ever heard of alto trumpet in F, but took a chance.
That was a cornet The one in the movie was just a prop but Andy Taylor Brass has made a working model of the SP Cornet www.taylortrumpets.com/vulcan_series.html
The Alto trombone seems to be the instrument for that alto range, the intonation problems are gone since you can manipulate the slide positions to make perfectly tuned high and low notes.
My rival high school had a few of these and my French horn playing pal was really jealous because he had to to play a concert French horn while marching. Neat instrument. Conn makes really good horns. Would love to learn one day, love the sound of mellophone so much.
We used those in HS...we had a section of 10....I played it for 4 years....we used a French horn mouthpiece adapter....I played solos that would be heard by foxes....everyone was still using this in the 80’s...Kenton band loved them
Featured on a large number of Kenton albums from the 60's. Check out their Christmas album, treatments of Wagner and Bernstein (West Side Story), and a collection of ballad albums that are great for intimate evenings. I have a one of these that had some funky surface treatment but still plays OK. I wish I had some of the Kenton charts with mellophonium parts; most available sheet music subs in flugelhorns or trombones.
Awesome review. thanks for using the proper mouthpiece, too. I have had two in my possession and, currently, still have and use a silver version. They are definitely fun and I've managed to play it pretty well in tune in an ensemble.
Mr. Hamilton, I've watched several videos on mellophones and mellophoniums. One fellow said that it was necessary to "blow to pitch". You did a splendid video in which you discussed the art and science of tuning brass instruments, with very helpful graphics showing where instruments "fell" on the stave for various notes. Perhaps you could do a video in which you compared various instruments regarding their tunability and any challenges for playing in pitch, with the "best" instrument regarding tunability compared to the "worst" instrument (perhaps the mellophone).
Completely ridiculous looking instrument, but that doesn't stop it looking intriguing and (to my eyes) quite adorable. I've never played a mellophone or mellophonium but I love working in that sort of region on my tenor horn. Giving this baby a spin would be a fun experience while the novelty lasts. This is why I love our sector so much; people aren't afraid to try constructing new things, to leap into the twilight zone. I just don't see that level in the string section for instance, at least superficially to the observer. Violins always look like violins.
Thank you for this video. My junior year in high school my band director decided to have me switch from trumpet to what he called a mellophone in marching band. After seeing this now I know it was a mellophnium not a mellophone that I played.
So, the mellophonium is actually its own instrument. In his arrangement of Malaguena, before starting Stan Kenton directs our attention to the mellophonium section. I had always thought that he was just using a Latinization of mellophone. However, looking at the video, the instruments look more like what you've reviewed today that the typical mellophones I'm used to seeing.
Well, Trent, I'm sure you are right. But I can tell you when a 200 piece marching band unleashes all of these weird devices in a football stadium in the U.S. that holds from 50 to 100,000 people, it is pretty awesome. That's who these horns are made for - college marching bands.
I had the pleasure of playing a mellophonium (which I named Eugene) in my university's pep band my first semester. I frankly prefer the tone of the mellophonium to the marching mellophone; however, the tuning really was a problem. Holding the instrument was also rather difficult, as there really is no obvious place to put the left hand. I switched to a mellophone after that semester because my university bought more.
Yeah, I have two places for my left hand that I switch between while playing mine, as neither one is very comfortable after a while. The tone is lovely but yes the tuning is pretty gnarly...not as bad as a frumpet though!
Do you know the 16E was designed for and used by the Stan Kenton Orchestra? Kenton used as many as four of them on some arrangements of his library. I worked for Conn between 1971-1976. Kenton was using the horns prior to the time I was there. Frank Taylor
Hey Trent, do you think you might ever make a video on you opinions regarding Drum Corps International? I think lots of people would love to hear what you think.
I'm way too old for that shit, but I'm near the airport. Frankly I don't think a lot of people know about DCI, I just found out about it because I get on these weird google and youtube explorations where I find out about weird brass instrument stuff.
marching mellophones: ridiculously powerful. I was thinking how there are tuba choirs, but wouldn't it be cool to have 12-16 middle horns in ensemble? like 3 or 4 of each flugels, mellies, alto/tenor horns, frenchies
There is a reason why natural trumpet and french horn tubing is twice as long as it needs to be in order to resonate tones, placing the fundamental up an octave in comparison to the modern trumpet, alto horns, tenor brass instruments, and tuba which are only 1x the length. Intonation anomalies magnify from trumpet to alto horn, increase again from alto to the baritone, and increase even further going from baritone to tuba, to the point where on Bb tubas the 2nd octave C played with the 1st valve can be closer to a B than a C.
I like it has a more bolder tone compared to the mellophone which to me sounds lighter and more direct but I write for both and saxes and the mellophonuim and mellophone alto sax combo sounds amazing
Trent, Love your show and your Sahara-like humor! One question, with only one additional piece of tubing, how do you get that to work to change the key on the mellophonium, off the main tuning slide? I had an alto horn, many years ago, that had three tuning crooks (one for 'C', one for 'D' and one for 'Eb') that were inserted between the mouthpiece and the lead pipe. You can imagine the tuning horror that was... John, USA
Reason I watch this channel weird and unusual instruments lol I was a flute play when I was at school I played in a concert band had a tuba trombones trumpets baritones and a French horn ( a non music teacher played it with us ) along with woodwind flute clarinet and sax
I’ve seen that on your wall for so many years and have always wondered what it was. I’m so glad this finally showed up on my feed! It’s like someone stretched out a French horn. Your description sounds like how wind players joke about piccolos. How do you get two piccolos to play in tune? Shoot one of them.
I have one made in 1972. The first time I used a tuner on it the lower C was in F and the higher C was in F# and still about 20 cents sharp. mine didn't come with the mouthpiece or extra crook, I've ended up 3D printing a custom mouthpiece based on a Shilke 28 and the bigger shank, then stretched it to 94mm and now it's at least in F. did you notice it's a .500 bore?
Excelent, as usual! I'd like you to talk about PICCOLO FRENCH HORN and POST HORN (the little one similar with valves, of course). Thanks (from Argentina)
I have one of these and love playing it. I think the intonation problems with this horn are frequently overstated. If your serious about playing this, you need to get the mouthpiece designed by Tony Scodwell specifically for this horn. Tony played in the Kenton mellophone section. It is a tremendous improvement over the stock or any other mello mp. It ain't cheap but it is THE mouthpiece for this horn. Here is the link: legendsbrass.com/mellophonium-cornet/
Been awhile since you've done a good "Alto" video. Would love to see a shoot out.....say Alto Trombone vs Mellophone vs Mellophonium vs Frumpet vs Alto (tenor) horn vs Eb Bass Trumpet
For some reason I now want a mellophonium. I mean, it's looks like it's about 3ft long, and it has an even bigger bell than a normal mellophone, and it's in F. What's not to love?
The answer to 6:20 is the horn. Unfortunately, it's hard to play, it's the most complicated brass instrument, and it's hard to march with, but it works well with all instruments.
So many comments! I think horn players should stick to horn. King H2 mouthpiece will make intonation much easier on mellophones. Horn players will always struggle with intonation when playing the alto horn or mellophone. In my band we had 2 Conn s and the sounded and looked fantastic!
Trent Hamilton I actually got one a couple of weeks ago though it was lacquered ((and it looked ugly cosmetic-wise but plays well.)) However I need to get the Conn 1 mouthpiece meant for this as I have a Bach 3 mellophone mouthpiece. Any ideas where I can get one?
I've played a mellophonium and the lead pipe takes a French horn mouthpiece. I'm not denying that conn may have designed a mouthpiece specifically for this instrument I'm just saying that a French horn mouthpiece does work.
I have a double belled trumpet with a trigger that can have it also play in another key. It also has an attachable soprano bell. Many of them seem to have been made, but I thought I would let you know if you would like to review it and haven't had the chance yet.
I have one of those mouthpieces! It fits a cornet, oddly enough, and thats how i ended up getting it but its gigantic so its just kind of... there... lol
Hey Trent,do you have a degree in music and alot of performance experience? Not to to sound negative,sorry if I do,but,you know alot and explain stuff quite well.I'be learned alot and I have been playing since I was a kid,57 now.Great job,sir!
pretty cool.....i love all instruments!! this would be right up my alley!! I wish you could explain all the ones that are behind you also... (some i know, others i don't)
I am an amateur trumpet player living in Canada. I’ve only recently started playing the euphonium. I stumbled across your TH-cam channel quite by accident and l must say that l thoroughly enjoy your videos. You have a very likeable way about you as well as a clever sense of humour. To say nothing of how informative you are. Keep up the good work. Incidentally l am almost seventy years old. Never too old to learn, eh?
Thanks for your kind words
The most famous user of the Mellophonium was Stan Kenton. He used them extensively in the late 50s and early 60s. And yes, they were the butt of many jokes from the rest of the brass section due to their intonation issues.
One of the Mellophonium players on the Kenton band was Ray Starling, a master musician whom I had the honor of working with in the late '60s in Detroit when he was playing piano. th-cam.com/video/f8XHd0tBuww/w-d-xo.html
The tuning problems do come from the bell, as you'd suspect. They really need a hand rummaging up the bell to fix the tuning problems. Oh wait, that's just a horn with half length tubing.
I play the alto saxophone in a band with three trumpets and one trombone and now I know why our band leader wanted to have an alto sax in the band, to fill in the "alto gap"
love your videos, always learning something new :)
4:35 was HILARIOUS I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD WHEN HE SAID IT! I love your exaggerations Trent!
you should do a review of a cimbasso, if you can get one
He did get one! He just did a review recently!
that Circular Breathing though
RacinZilla003 ikr! I saw it and was pretty amazed
since the instrument is circular ish, circular breathing should work
@@AlgyCuber if the instrument needs to be circular to do circular breathing then you shouldn't be able to do it on woodwinds (which you can)
Algy Cuber Thats not how it works... (and if this is a joke it isn’t funny)
@@AlgyCuber I thought it was at least a little funny. 6.3/10
“They have inherent tuning problems” Probably the nicest thing ever said about this instrument. Made me sort of tear up a little bit. 🤣🤣🤣
"Hornucopia" in San Carlos, California, where I bought my Getzen 700s, has at least two of those things. There's a hilarious account online - maybe on the Conn Loyalist site? - where a band member recalls one day with Stan Kenton's band, taking the mellophoniums and putting trumpet mouthpieces in, enabling them to make the most ungodly shrieks, and then one fine day dumping them into the hotel pool, where they sank, blub, blub, blub. They were made to fish them out, of course.
You forgot to mention the ultimate feature of the Conn Mellophonium: its massive honking .500" bore. Zig Stardust's rubbish abomination has nothing on that. I just snagged one of these on ebay for an embarrassingly low price, so I'm super excited to see how this differs from other alto thingers. Seems like a safe bet that "absurdly loud" makes the list of attributes.
*edit*
Cool, but underwhelming instrument, given its reputation. One of the best looking instruments ever invented. Huge dynamic contrast. Good but not earth shattering tone. Intonation isn't as bad as reputed, but you need to be able to blow to pitch. Pitch bends so well, you can play an entire song in the wrong key without anyone knowing that you're clamming. Ergonomics suck. Debatable how usable the high range is, but it's definitely there and not hard to get to. Opting out of using the stock Conn 1 mouthpiece could make a Mount Rushmore of bad ideas.
Old French Horn player here - I just acquired one of these, a 1970 edition. When it gets here, it'll be interesting to contrast it with my 1911 Conn concert mello.
This is the instrument that i was asking about yesterday. Another brass guy filled me in and then i wanted to hear more and led me back to you! You are really knowledgeable....i used to play french horn but when i first started we all learned on trumpets and cornets. I loved it. Hated lugging the case around. But weird instruments are so interesting. Its like a family tree with your wackadoodly cousin.
Love the video, all your content is done very well. As a Tuba player myself I have become addicted to watching your videos recently.
I played one of these horns in a Kentucky HS marching band from 1963 to 1966. Pretty easy to play but you sure couldn't see where you were going.
My BDs: mellophones, try to sound more like french horns on that part
Me: invest in some of these buddy
It would be nice to hear you play the instrument again after having discussed it in each video.
I have the oldest mellophonium in existence. I helped date the horns. I have the 3rd one made. Approximately made in March, 1956. Conn introduced them for sale in 1957.
I have the original case as well.
I love my horn. It takes a lot of omiture and practice to where you can play it in tune.
:-)
Wow, amazing! Is there a serial number on it? I wonder what Conn did with their first instruments of experiments. Vocabells, Coprion bells, things like that. Did they all get a serial? Were they sold? Anybody?
@marten594 sorry I took so long to respond.
My serial number is 611353.
Made in 1956, 11th of March. The "5" in the serial number indicates the mellophonium classification. Then 3 would be the number of the horn made.
There's also a list on the internet called Lar's list, which is a Conn serial number list, compiled by owners of conn instruments. The Conn headquarters had a fire that destroyed their records. The numbers they compiled are estimated to years.
I hope that helps.
To have Trent Hamilton's "weirdest instrument" he's ever played in my high school band is an honor
That is the most kick-ass French Horn I have ever seen. Awesome.
Those using it in the Stan Kenton orchestra support the instrument with their left hand cupping it at the bottom of the large coil. Not at the bottom center, but a little bit toward the bell.
My middle School used to have these. they are crazy...
According to what I have read, the mellophonium was built by the C. G. Conn corporation at the behest of Stan Kenton. He had tried using french horn players with his band, but the horn players of his day were unable to understand jazz phrasing, and phrase with the other sections of the band. The thought was that mellophoniums (mellophonia?) could be played by trumpet players who understood jazz phrasing. The mellophonium that I own (a wall decoration above my Kenton recordings) uses a trumpet mouthpiece. It also has an adapter to accept a french horn mouthpiece.
Mellophoniums were marketed as marching band instruments, and enjoyed a brief vogue. They were eventually replaced by the marching mellophone seen on the wall. The original mellophone dates back to the 1920's or so, and looks like the mellophonium, but with the bell turned downward in a french horn shape. Some trumpet players in dance bands of that time doubled on mellophone.
The story that Stan Kenton invented the mellophonium or asked Conn to make it is an urban legend; it was already being marketed as a marching instrument when Kenton discovered it and picked it to use in his band. He tried French horns and flugelhorns and they didn't have the sound he was looking for.
Thanks for the correction. It's not the first time I've been complicit in passing along a popular falsehood (Arnold Jacobs actually had TWO lungs, not one, Salieri did not kill Mozart etc.). For what it's worth, a few years after the demise of the melophonium band, Stan Kenton formed the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra. This group had french horns rather than melophoniums. The french horn sound was what he and those that wrote for this group wanted. They finally found horn players that could play in the jazz idiom.
Here's a link to a video of the Melophonium band in action:
th-cam.com/video/xQbSlIrylkk/w-d-xo.html
@@jauch0 I met Arnold Jacobs in 85 after his lung surgery and recovery. He had one lung and still played better then anyone else. Also the only way to get horn players to swing is with a rope.
Thanks for an interesting video about this unusual instrument. It is listed in my 1965 Conn price list (complete outfit, including case) as 16E "Special" for US $310 to $330, depending upon the type of finish.
The counterweight on the instrument makes me laugh--it's as if someone asked "Hey, what do we do about a counterweight? We need to design one" and the answer was "No, we'll just steal one from a trombone!"
When I studied band pageantry in the USA in 1966 I was required to compose arrangements for marching band. The instructor told the class to not write parts for marching French horns, but to use mellophones instead. When I wrote for alto trumpet in F, instead of mellophone, he loved it. I think it was the only time I saw him happy.
I had never seen nor ever heard of alto trumpet in F, but took a chance.
It reminds me of the trumpet or flugelhorn (what ever it was) from the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)
Wolff oh my god, it does look like it.
That was a cornet
The one in the movie was just a prop but Andy Taylor Brass has made a working model of the SP Cornet
www.taylortrumpets.com/vulcan_series.html
The Alto trombone seems to be the instrument for that alto range, the intonation problems are gone since you can manipulate the slide positions to make perfectly tuned high and low notes.
My rival high school had a few of these and my French horn playing pal was really jealous because he had to to play a concert French horn while marching. Neat instrument. Conn makes really good horns. Would love to learn one day, love the sound of mellophone so much.
We used those in HS...we had a section of 10....I played it for 4 years....we used a French horn mouthpiece adapter....I played solos that would be heard by foxes....everyone was still using this in the 80’s...Kenton band loved them
Featured on a large number of Kenton albums from the 60's. Check out their Christmas album, treatments of Wagner and Bernstein (West Side Story), and a collection of ballad albums that are great for intimate evenings. I have a one of these that had some funky surface treatment but still plays OK. I wish I had some of the Kenton charts with mellophonium parts; most available sheet music subs in flugelhorns or trombones.
Awesome review. thanks for using the proper mouthpiece, too. I have had two in my possession and, currently, still have and use a silver version. They are definitely fun and I've managed to play it pretty well in tune in an ensemble.
Mr. Hamilton, I've watched several videos on mellophones and mellophoniums. One fellow said that it was necessary to "blow to pitch". You did a splendid video in which you discussed the art and science of tuning brass instruments, with very helpful graphics showing where instruments "fell" on the stave for various notes. Perhaps you could do a video in which you compared various instruments regarding their tunability and any challenges for playing in pitch, with the "best" instrument regarding tunability compared to the "worst" instrument (perhaps the mellophone).
I stayed up late just in case you posted a video, and so you did. Thanks! (Btw it's one in the morning where I am)
Same
I got to play one of these at a local honor band and it was definitely an experience
Completely ridiculous looking instrument, but that doesn't stop it looking intriguing and (to my eyes) quite adorable. I've never played a mellophone or mellophonium but I love working in that sort of region on my tenor horn. Giving this baby a spin would be a fun experience while the novelty lasts. This is why I love our sector so much; people aren't afraid to try constructing new things, to leap into the twilight zone. I just don't see that level in the string section for instance, at least superficially to the observer. Violins always look like violins.
Looks very elegant with that round shape!
Thank you for this video. My junior year in high school my band director decided to have me switch from trumpet to what he called a mellophone in marching band. After seeing this now I know it was a mellophnium not a mellophone that I played.
So, the mellophonium is actually its own instrument. In his arrangement of Malaguena, before starting Stan Kenton directs our attention to the mellophonium section. I had always thought that he was just using a Latinization of mellophone. However, looking at the video, the instruments look more like what you've reviewed today that the typical mellophones I'm used to seeing.
They're not just similar, they're exactly the same. The Kenton orchestra's mellophonium section used Conn 16Es.
Thanks. That's an interesting fact.
Thanks for the video. There's a beautifully played Mellophonium solo at the beginning of Always Something There To Remind Me by Sandie Shaw.
Well, Trent, I'm sure you are right. But I can tell you when a 200 piece marching band unleashes all of these weird devices in a football stadium in the U.S. that holds from 50 to 100,000 people, it is pretty awesome. That's who these horns are made for - college marching bands.
I had the pleasure of playing a mellophonium (which I named Eugene) in my university's pep band my first semester. I frankly prefer the tone of the mellophonium to the marching mellophone; however, the tuning really was a problem. Holding the instrument was also rather difficult, as there really is no obvious place to put the left hand. I switched to a mellophone after that semester because my university bought more.
Yeah, I have two places for my left hand that I switch between while playing mine, as neither one is very comfortable after a while. The tone is lovely but yes the tuning is pretty gnarly...not as bad as a frumpet though!
Do you know the 16E was designed for and used by the Stan Kenton Orchestra? Kenton used as many as four of them on some arrangements of his library. I worked for Conn between 1971-1976. Kenton was using the horns prior to the time I was there. Frank Taylor
Stan Kenton made an album using that very same version of Mellophoniums. Got a buddy here in Spokane, Washington who played it on that album.
You're one of the few people that I've seen that can circular breathe. Glad to see I'm not alone
Hey Trent, do you think you might ever make a video on you opinions regarding Drum Corps International? I think lots of people would love to hear what you think.
He should watch some videos of Vanguard, my own local drum corps, amazing stuff.
I'm way too old for that shit, but I'm near the airport. Frankly I don't think a lot of people know about DCI, I just found out about it because I get on these weird google and youtube explorations where I find out about weird brass instrument stuff.
I've got one of those too - love it ... odd yes... but I love it
Kilometers? Ha! I only use freedom units!
Carlos Ramos murica
'Murica
'Myanmar
2.1 miles
'Liberia
You need to hear a dci mello section....they are amazing
A mellophonium played beautifully can be heard in the TH-cam video titled -- Oblivion, French Horn ensemble with Mellophonium solo
marching mellophones: ridiculously powerful.
I was thinking how there are tuba choirs, but wouldn't it be cool to have 12-16 middle horns in ensemble? like 3 or 4 of each flugels, mellies, alto/tenor horns, frenchies
Would like to see you make an acapella out your entire collection
Indigo Azai | Acapella? Do you mean ensemble?
There is a reason why natural trumpet and french horn tubing is twice as long as it needs to be in order to resonate tones, placing the fundamental up an octave in comparison to the modern trumpet, alto horns, tenor brass instruments, and tuba which are only 1x the length. Intonation anomalies magnify from trumpet to alto horn, increase again from alto to the baritone, and increase even further going from baritone to tuba, to the point where on Bb tubas the 2nd octave C played with the 1st valve can be closer to a B than a C.
it looks like if a trumpet and a French horn had a baby
I like it has a more bolder tone compared to the mellophone which to me sounds lighter and more direct but I write for both and saxes and the mellophonuim and mellophone alto sax combo sounds amazing
Trent, Love your show and your Sahara-like humor! One question, with only one additional piece of tubing, how do you get that to work to change the key on the mellophonium, off the main tuning slide? I had an alto horn, many years ago, that had three tuning crooks (one for 'C', one for 'D' and one for 'Eb') that were inserted between the mouthpiece and the lead pipe. You can imagine the tuning horror that was... John, USA
The Eb tubing is in a loop form, you put it in between your tuning slide and the rest of the instrument
Nice review! Keep them coming...
Reason I watch this channel weird and unusual instruments lol I was a flute play when I was at school I played in a concert band had a tuba trombones trumpets baritones and a French horn ( a non music teacher played it with us ) along with woodwind flute clarinet and sax
You should get one of the double-belled euphoniums
I’ve seen that on your wall for so many years and have always wondered what it was. I’m so glad this finally showed up on my feed! It’s like someone stretched out a French horn.
Your description sounds like how wind players joke about piccolos. How do you get two piccolos to play in tune? Shoot one of them.
At my grandmother's house I've been playing my grandfather's uncle's trumpet,trombone,alto horn,and cornet
Is this the instrument they used in the Stan Kenton Band?
txsphere Yes
Look for Malaguena here to hear it
I have one made in 1972. The first time I used a tuner on it the lower C was in F and the higher C was in F# and still about 20 cents sharp. mine didn't come with the mouthpiece or extra crook, I've ended up 3D printing a custom mouthpiece based on a Shilke 28 and the bigger shank, then stretched it to 94mm and now it's at least in F. did you notice it's a .500 bore?
gotta say this one is in fantastic condition
Excelent, as usual! I'd like you to talk about PICCOLO FRENCH HORN and POST HORN (the little one similar with valves, of course). Thanks (from Argentina)
Thank you amazing video
Speaking of unusual, how about a Kuhlohorn?
I have one of these and love playing it. I think the intonation problems with this horn are frequently overstated. If your serious about playing this, you need to get the mouthpiece designed by Tony Scodwell specifically for this horn. Tony played in the Kenton mellophone section. It is a tremendous improvement over the stock or any other mello mp. It ain't cheap but it is THE mouthpiece for this horn. Here is the link: legendsbrass.com/mellophonium-cornet/
Been awhile since you've done a good "Alto" video. Would love to see a shoot out.....say Alto Trombone vs Mellophone vs Mellophonium vs Frumpet vs Alto (tenor) horn vs Eb Bass Trumpet
Hi Trent ,you know where i can buy nuzzle for mellaphonium? Thank you
The Olds, etc. mellophone is the replacement of the mellophonium, thank goodness.
For some reason I now want a mellophonium.
I mean, it's looks like it's about 3ft long, and it has an even bigger bell than a normal mellophone, and it's in F.
What's not to love?
What size mouthpiece shank does this horn take? French Horn, Trumpet or Cornet ?? Thanks & Cheers
My high school actually has one of these!
The answer to 6:20 is the horn. Unfortunately, it's hard to play, it's the most complicated brass instrument, and it's hard to march with, but it works well with all instruments.
He called mellophone ridiculous, but it's easier to play than horn, has a nice alto sound, and isn't uncomfortable to hold.
I quite like the sound
So many comments! I think horn players should stick to horn. King H2 mouthpiece will make intonation much easier on mellophones. Horn players will always struggle with intonation when playing the alto horn or mellophone. In my band we had 2 Conn s and the sounded and looked fantastic!
Is there anyway you could tell what the mouthpiece says because I have a horn but no mouthpiece and I have no way to search for one?
What is the name of the outro song please?
I only play stringed instruments and im not sure how I even found your channel.
Trent Hamilton I actually got one a couple of weeks ago though it was lacquered ((and it looked ugly cosmetic-wise but plays well.)) However I need to get the Conn 1 mouthpiece meant for this as I have a Bach 3 mellophone mouthpiece. Any ideas where I can get one?
have the same one!
You should've mentioned the Stan Kenton Orchestra in this video. :)
Aye finally!
What is that song you play at 0:09? I'm not Christian, but I heard it as a teenager during Christmas season and I've loved it ever since.
Jesu, Joy of man's desiring.
Yes, thank you! It's so lovely!
@@TrentHamilton Bach wrote a prelude based on it.
I've played a mellophonium and the lead pipe takes a French horn mouthpiece. I'm not denying that conn may have designed a mouthpiece specifically for this instrument I'm just saying that a French horn mouthpiece does work.
I have a double belled trumpet with a trigger that can have it also play in another key. It also has an attachable soprano bell. Many of them seem to have been made, but I thought I would let you know if you would like to review it and haven't had the chance yet.
I also have a plastic euphonium.
Could you please send me some photos? If you have Facebook the link for me is in the video description.
Sure, I have them with my family right now in florida, i'll post the pics as soon as I get them.
Thanks!
I have one of those mouthpieces! It fits a cornet, oddly enough, and thats how i ended up getting it but its gigantic so its just kind of... there... lol
Do u know where I can buy a conn 16e mellophonium and also can it be used for marching band
What about fingering? Maybe mine is messed up somehow but it doesn’t sound right with French horn or trumpet fingering.
Fanfare trumpets often have bells far away too... ever review one of those? They look quite interesting...
Would you reccomend conn instruments for music instruments?
Conn instruments are quite good.
I have been looking into a conn baritone for band and music school.
Hey Trent. Have you ever tried an Antoinephone? (Or something like that I don't remember the spelling)
My band director has one of these things in his office.
I have seen old mellophones and flugelhorns recurved like French horns. Why would they have changed that?
I know Stan Kenton and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis liked them and those recordings sound great but it makes it tough to play those arrangements!
Hey Trent,do you have a degree in music and alot of performance experience? Not to to sound negative,sorry if I do,but,you know alot and explain stuff quite well.I'be learned alot and I have been playing since I was a kid,57 now.Great job,sir!
Trent do you have a Baritone Saxophone if so can you review it?
Ull's Arrow No... Woodwinds aren't real instruments.
its a music channel, so no
Do you have any experience with instruments from Wessex?
Is that the place or a maker?
pretty cool.....i love all instruments!! this would be right up my alley!! I wish you could explain all the ones that are behind you also... (some i know, others i don't)
Nice Moiré shirt you've got there :-)
I'm jealous of that shirt too. Guess it pays to live in the native land of moire' sheep.
What’s the song at the beginning again?
jesu joy of man’s desiring