Sousaphone

The sousaphone or Sousafon [ ˌ ː to ː Zafo n] is a form of Tuba, which was first built in the late 19th century on the initiative of the American composer John Philip Sousa and also named after him. The instrument is of the function and scale length establishes a tuba and contrabass in mood F, Eb, Bb or C and with three or four, rarely five valves.

The design of the Sousaphons taken from the Helikon, the (smaller ) Funnel However laterally aligned. It is in contrast to the tuba not before but worn around the body. The towering bell of the sousaphone with a short, but very far flaring to about 90 ° Facing Forward horn ( diameter about 65 cm ) is removable. Genuine Sousaphone the funnel, however, showed up, so it was also called Rain Catcher (rain catcher ). Sousa wanted to avoid directly into the audience targeting bass, so the model in use today with the forward-facing funnel under his personal direction was never used. Since the 1960s, also Sousaphone made ​​of plastic are common, their horns and last pipe coil is made to save weight made ​​of white colored fiber composite material ( glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin). Modern Champions like Kirk Joseph, have on the instrument acquires a mobility which almost corresponds to a stringed instrument.

Costumed sousaphone player during Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Luxembourg Military Band Sousaphone plastic