Editing Baritone horn (section)

== History and Development ==
The baritone was derived from the baritone [[saxhorn]], a lower voice in the family of instruments developed by [[Adolphe Sax]], who is also known for creating the [[saxophone]] family. There were a collection of difference brass instruments that developed from this, such as the [[flugelhorn]] and [[Tenor horn|alto/tenor horn]], both similarly conically shaped instruments.

By the 1850s, Sax had convinced French military bands to use exclusively saxhorns in their bands, giving the instruments one of its first staples in the military field.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baritones |url=https://www.theorchestraplace.com/instruments-of-the-orchestra/baritones/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=THE ORCHESTRA PLACE |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Brass band and Military Traditions ===
In a [[British brass band]], the baritone is typically a member of the tenor section, alongside alto/tenor horns, some trombones, and sometimes the euphoniums.

At the start of the Civil War, there were few military bands. The few that did exist included the US Marine Band, The US Military Academy Band, several Regular Army regimental bands, and bands associated with state militias. The War Department General Order no. 48 issued on 31 July 1861 entitled 2 field musicians (buglers or fifes and drummers) per company of soldiers and a band of 16-24 musicians for each regiment. In these groups, saxhorns were played as a versatile brass voice, with the baritone finding it's development here. An over-the-shoulder variety of the instrument was used quite frequently, as the backward-pointing bell of the instrument allowed troops marching behind the band to hear the music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brass Bands of the Civil War |url=https://www.jvmusic.net/brass-bands-of-the-civil-war/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=JV Music - Musical Arrangements |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Drum and Bugle Corps ===
[[Drum Corps International|Drum Corps International (DCI)]] is the governing body for competitive junior drum and bugle corps in North America, showcasing elite marching ensembles made up of performers aged 13 to 21. Known as "Marching Music’s Major League," DCI hosts nationwide competitions culminating in the annual World Championships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Drum Corps International (DCI), Marching Music’s Major League™ |url=https://www.dci.org/static/about-drum-corps-international |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=www.dci.org |language=en}}</ref> 
[[File:USMC-120619-M-OU625-001.jpg|thumb|Sgt. David Cox, U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps baritone player]]
There are typically five brass instruments: the [[trumpet]] (soprano voice), the [[mellophone]] (alto voice), the baritone (tenor/baritone voice), the euphonium (baritone voice), and the [[Contrabass bugle|contrabass]] (bass voice). The baritone within these ensembles is often known as the '''marching baritone,''' used in both college and high school [[marching band]]s. They have three valves and a front-facing [[Bell (wind)|bell]] and are pitched in the key of Bb, similarly to the baritone.

These horns originally started as a lower-voiced bugle. Eventually they started adding valves to the bugles, which were only allowed to be in the key of G. First came a single horizontal piston, then 1 piston and 1 rotor, 2 pistons, and finally 3 pistons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=G Bugles |url=https://tiffanyjohns.com/blog/g-bugles |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Tiffany Johns |language=en-US}}</ref> In current day, there is a combination of different corps which use either the [[marching euphonium]], marching baritone, or both, typically having around 24 members in the section. `