Expert: Kenton Scott - 10/23/2010

Question
I have an old Couesnon instrument from 1923. It looks
similar to a euphonium, although it seems somewhat smaller.
It has a small "C2" on the second valve in addition to the
standard Couesnon marks on the bell. I was wondering what it
is actually called and in general more information about
what it is.

Answer
Well there could be a couple of possibilities.  There are some smaller configured euphoniums out there,  or it might be a tenor horn.  The tenor horns were popular until around the turn of the century.  They played at the same pitch as the euphonium, but with a more narrow bore profile, they had a different sound.  And, finally it could be an alto horn.  If it is an alto horn, it would then play in Eb rather than Bb.