Sousaphones
Sousaphone Fast Facts
The massive sousaphone is a form of brass tuba, and is recognizable by its enormous bell. In spite of its size, it is a popular member of marching military bands, and was first made for the American composer and band conductor John Philip Sousa in 1899, after whom it was named. Both bass and contralto sousaphones are still played today.
A Brief History of the Sousaphone
The tuba, largest and lowest-sounding of the brasses, has eighteen feet of tubing coiled so that the player can hold it on his lap as he plays. In order to make the tuba easier for the players in a marching band to carry, the sousaphone was developed in the early 1900s. Named for bandmaster John Philip Sousa, the sousaphone is a tuba coiled in a big circle. The player gets inside the circle and rests the weight of the instrument on his shoulder as he marches. A metal sousaphone might weigh as much as fifty pounds, but many are now being made of fiberglass and are much lighter.
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