The baritone horn is often mistaken to be an euphonium.
During the historical development of baritones, the manner by which we name and categorize the forms of this instrument became vague, especially due to geographic differences and immigration, according to the Shepherd's Crook website. Nevertheless, there are clear definitions between some varieties of baritone horns. Despite attempts to standardize nomenclature, however, there still remain structural variations that don't render a distinct spot in the baritone family.
The Baritone
Baritones' large amount of tubing is partially responsible for its sound quality.
The baritone horn is a brass instrument, composed of cylindrical tubing, a bell, valves and a large mouthpiece. The baritone is pitched at an octave analogous to that of a trombone; it sounds higher than a tuba, but lower than a trumpet. However, compared to a trombone and trumpet, a baritone horn has a smoother, less brassy tone. While baritones generally don't play a significant role in orchestras, they are found within concert bands.
The Euphonium
Euphoniums can play a key role in concert pieces.
Euphoniums are low brass instruments that qualify as members of the tuba family, the Classical Music on the Web website states. Modern euphoniums are visually similar to baritones and often aren't easily distinguished. The physical distinction between the euphonium and the baritone lies in the diameter and shape of the tubing, a unit referred to as the "bore." The bore and bell dimensions of a euphonium are wider and more conical than that of a baritone. This results in a richer, deeper tone and a more expressive timbre, or quality of sound.
The Tenor Horn and Alto Horn
The tenor horn, also known as the alto horn in the United Kingdom, is an ancestor of the baritone, Greg Monk writes on his Brass History Page. While there is a noticeable relationship between tenor horns and baritones, the tenor horns have thinner tubing and a narrower, longer bell. This structure makes the overall form appear somewhat like the lowercase letter "b." The thinner bore creates a more brassy tone, resembling much closer the voice of a trombone than the voice of a euphonium.
The Marching Horns
College marching bands often include baritones for their strong brass presence.
Marching horns mainly come in two forms: baritone and euphonium. Marching baritones generally are smaller, weighing about 5.5 lbs., and are more compact than euphoniums. Marching euphoniums have a wider bore and bell, more tubing, longer appearance, and weigh about 8 lbs. on average. Tenor horns also have a marching counterpart, but they are rarely seen in their original form which includes an elongated, backward-facing bell, Monk writes.
Other Variations
In most cases, each type of baritone also exists in a variety of forms that don't qualify the instrument to be classified as an independent member of the family. Some of these variations include metal type and color, number of bells, direction of the bell, number of keys, existence of a fifth valve, also known as a "trigger," and the clef, or relative pitch, in which the instrument's music is written.
