Some of my absolute favourite brass instruments have been variations on an alto theme. I like the mellowness of sound you can get – a complete departure from the shallow rim shrillness that is standard fare for many trumpets.
Some great instruments – in my opinion – include the ones I am going to list: but really, there’s a virtual candy shop out there full of other examples.
first, a Key: F with Eb Slide Change silver horn which I’ve just rescued from its beaten up old [original] case, shaken the dust off [it’s been sitting here for over a decade], freed a stuck first valve, and generally cleaned up [without embarking on dent removal] – it’s a King [H.N. White] “Altonium”. Generically an alto horn, the ones entitled to the appellation “Altonium” are the ones produced by King for several decades right into the 1970s
The picture below is an H.N.White Co photo of a slightly later [serial 328259] instrument which was restored – no expense spared – by the maker a few years back. [unlike mine, this one has its bell screw/mount and music stand holder]
H.N.White’s White Way News Catalog #21, 1965 described the Altonium like this –
King Altonium Background:
The alto-tone of the Altonium adds sparkle and brilliance in the open air. It blends in perfectly with the other bell-front brasses and brings out the usually weak inner voices. The Altonium is the perfect marching substitute for the French Horn. The tone is rich and mellow yet possesses much power and resonance. With a mouthpiece about twice as large as the French Horn, it does not require as delicate an embouchure and produces a good tone even with a fast cadence. The trumpet-type valves on this King creation permit the player to finger as fast as smaller brasses.—
I was so taken with the way this horn plays that last week I took it [with no second instrument] to a Havana Palava practice: I used a Martin flugel mouthpiece, but I note H.N.White matched the horn with a King number 9. I describe the sound as bold, not with the sheer blast power of some mellophones, but – as White claims – rich, mellow, and resonant. I found getting the lowest notes required concentration [maybe my embouchure] but it has an ability to let you soar high, with outstandingly [surprisingly] nice slotting on climbs and retreats.
Fingering is fast, as claimed.
This rare, collectable, and fully playable vintage King Altonium by H.N. White – one of the great makers from the golden era of American instrument manufacturing – is available for sale and comes with the original King case.
NO mouthpiece included.
Price – $1000 AUD