The Birth of the Sousaphone

Tuba enthusiast Dave Detwiler unwinds the mystery of the first Sousaphone, the origin of which has been a subject of controversy for over 100 years. Now, the original instrument is restored and ready to play. Watch the story of how it came to be, its loss and finding, and eventual repair and appearance in concert.
www.jwpepper.com
www.dillonmusic.com
www.realgoodrecording.com
www.montcoband.org
Additional footage filmed at Dillon Music, Woodbridge NJ
Concert footage filmed at Souderton High School, Souderton, PA
Interview filmed at J.W. Pepper Exton, PA
Created by J.W. Pepper
Filmed & Edited by Rocco Richardson
Asst. Filming by Mark Patterson
Photography by Mark Patterson
Interviewer: George Class
Produced by George Class, Rocco Richardson, Jen Tolnay

[@chris41952]

I played sousaphone in high school and never had the money to buy my own. Many years later my son played trumpet in the same school. The director called me one day and said he had something for me. He'd gone into the old storage room and pulled out the same Olds sousaphone I had marched with so long ago. With schools permission it was gifted to me for all the booster work I had done over the years. With tear filled eyes, I pulled my old friend from her case and after some careful maintenance, played with the school concert band. Best gift I ever received.

[@benjaminfolkers4466]

I had no idea Olds made sousaphones

[@Damian-xs3vb]

That's so badass

[@paytonbowling7259]

That is awesome

[@yovanig.d.5905]

This makes me smile

[@luisfranciscosoto]

Nice story!

[@davedetwiler2561]

Just to keep this thread, and the earliest history of the Sousaphone, up-to-date, it should be noted that I finally did find evidence that the original Sousaphone, built by J. W. Pepper in 1895, was played in Sousa’s Band. Here’s the link to the historic photograph that was discovered that changed what we know about that historic instrument: tubapastor.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-truly-historic-photograph-1896.html I also finally found a reference to Pepper’s new instrument in a newspaper article from the time of that Sousa Band tour: tubapastor.blogspot.com/2016/03/finally-check-out-this-1896-article.html The work of the historian is never done!

[@janviljoen7001]

Wow interesting and thanks a lot for this info. I am from South Africa and I played trumpet in a civil military band in 1971. Most young South African men were called up to do military civil service for one year. In 1971 South Africa had its 10 year festival of becoming a republic and our band was the only civil band selected to take part in the main marching parade with four other Permanent Force bands in Cape Town, -- the Army, Air Force, Navy and Correctional Services bands. I must admit on the day the Correctional Service band from the Orange Free Sate province was the best and most professional of all, but what was the best part, they had 5 sousaphones marching at the back, all in rows of fives. These blokes were really good in their green uniforms with their front facing big bells, doing dance paces left and right when they had a chance to show off. They carried them all the way through the streets of Cape Town. More than 50 years ago, I still remember them clearly as the best we have ever seen. In 1990 we had a change of regime and the CS band does not exist anymore. I can only wonder what happened to those unique instruments. Nowadays I play pedal steel guitar and mandolin.

[@danschneider624]

Cool video. I have a Holton rain catcher made in 1915 that I play on a regular basis in a German band. Great horn for oompah!

[@BoazKimMusic]

That’s great! What a find that you have. Is there any extra special quality to that horn in particular like a larger bore? Any special playing quality from your regular sousaphone or tubas that you own?

[@MichaelFClef]

Wonderful production. Thank you so much.

[@jrlexjr]

Great story. J.W. Pepper is now a regular stop on the tours that I give at Laurel Hill East in Philadelphia.

[@donshirer3657]

Very informative! Good job, Dave.

[@byherr]

Don Shirer The goat-man engraving is probably a representation of Pan, the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature of mountain wilds and rustic music, and companion of the nymphs. The ancient Greeks also considered Pan to be the god of theatrical criticism. (clipped from the Wikipedia article)

[@chanderprakash3159]

7:10 what is the name of the march playing in the background?

[@mikkelmuk]

Great lecture, but why didn't we hear a bit from the concert?

[@jwpepper1876]

+mikkelmuk Thanks for watching! Actually 90% of the music in the video is from the Montgomery County Concert Band performing with the Sousaphone! We were very thankful to them for letting us have that access. We hope to be showing more of them around Christmas time so check back!

[@exponetsnow2167]

jwpepper1876 what was the discussion website he used to talk to other players called?

[@matthewlynn7012]

If i recall, Sousa was looking for a sound that was far less mellow than the sound produced by an upright bell. And thats why Sousaphones have a larger forward facing bell. because the direct sound from the forward facing bell is far less mellow than that the soundwaves produced at the edges of an upright bell. (which is where most of what you hear from an upright bell comes from, the edges of the bell). this is atleast what my research has led my to believe.

[@davedetwiler2561]

+Matthew Lynn Hey Matthew, you may find my blog helpful, as it logs my research on Sousaphone history. www.tubapastor.blogspot.com

[@mesirpez]

This is great, thank you

[@Leo-vr3bg]

I live right by the farmers market that was found at, trust me it's not an antique store.

[@ploopydoopydoo]

What is it?

[@legolordthemasterofgreatne6283]

That Contra Guy that music at the beginning is called the liberty bell because we played it

[@Leo-vr3bg]

A farmers market, and I never asked the music.

[@gregdolecki8530]

Would it have been too much trouble to actually play the finished horn in this video???

[@SeekerLancer]

Haha, I used to go to Renningers all the time. Great flea market.

[@chucheponce7222]

Is there anybody that makes a right shoulder sousaphone? I want to learn how to play it but I have a bad left shoulder😢 . Anybody that might make a custom one?

[@bobbobadilla6247]

We’re literally playing the piece in the intro right now

[@joellevarner]

What was the date this video was posted? I'm using it as a source for a music history paper. Thanks!

[@jwpepper1876]

July 2015

[@Zeicon117]

I would feel so honored to play one or own one I think I would be so exited to have such relic I would faint

[@brotherantoinemoore7390]

It’s fun but very heavy when you not used to holding it

[@newclarence]

I wonder what key this old horn is in. BBflat?

[@matthewlynn7012]

i wish he would have been using a Miraphone TU 29 mouthpiece. its so much nicer than the mouthpiece he was holding at 15:28

[@zandergrier1302]

As long as it sounds fine which it does, it doesn't matter what mouthpiece you use. I personally don't really like the TU 29 because the high range and transitions are pretty bad. You don't need to plug a certain mouthpiece.

[@pokedrake965]

He was talking about a chat forum for tuba and euphonium layers. Are there any chat forums for people that play the everything?

[@richmateyko9803]

Tubenet.com

[@jbaylies]

@@richmateyko9803 chisham.com

[@Gabe_tba]

Ughhhhh this Damn song. I played it. It’s a good song but I don’t ever want to play it again. The Liberty March.

[@mikestang679]

Great story........The big bruiser of low brass.....

[@agodbee3847]

1-14-17. Davy: I do suppose your know of the 20th Century Fox motion picture "Stars and Stripes Forever" [DVD blue Ray $22.62] the film story of John Philip Sousa (Clifton Webb, Ruth Hussey Sousa's wife) in which Robert Wagner introduces? the instrument to Sousa and finally gets to play it in his band. Sousa's life beyond the fact he was the Marine Band's leader left little in the way of good storyline screenwriter Lamar Trotti came up with the idea of Wagner--and Debra Paget-- with the new instrument to boaster the screen play. Your story is also fascinating.

[@riffraffradicalmarchingban4829]

Top doco Paster, I read pretty much your entire, Strictly Oompah blog, I can’t help thinking, excuse me if this was covered but some political/ business reason why Conn’s horns ascended at the turn of the century? Anyway been a pleasure to research your work!

[@camerondall4257]

Dillion is 100% correct that music schools do not care about something such as this.

[@aerynedwards7352]

So Montgomery County in Mount Sterling? I march in the Montgomery county Highschool band.

[@fedeymini]

Lots of interesting history- 5:11-5:17. Just a guess... Could this be Pan the faun?

[@LeopoldMidas]

Well at least he's rational when it comes to brass instruments. Amazing.

[@exponetsnow2167]

@J.W Pepper Do you know what discussion website he used to talk to the other players was called? I’m the only tuba player in my high school band I need more tuba players to talk to

[@exponetsnow2167]

@jwpepper1876

[@morganvanko9782]

A subject of CONTRAversy.... hehe

[@MYSTERYGUUY]

Me and my friends played the song he started playing before putting the sousaphone upsidedown for 1 hour right before sa football game

[@proot.]

What was the first march? It sounds like something I've played before

[@jwpepper1876]

It's The Liberty Bell March.

[@godoalfredomj]

monty python's flying circus

[@legolordthemasterofgreatne6283]

jwpepper1876 my high school hand played it at our last concert

[@bigbear2105]

Song?

[@pikusoldier1232]

0:02 what is the title music?

[@jwpepper1876]

Hi Adrian, it's the Liberty Bell March.

[@christosioannou9628]

... could I buy it?

[@unhappysmilesofficial156]

That’s the liberty bell march in the background music

[@rvc6506]

Too bad the predecessor to the sousaphone, the helicon, wasn't mentioned.

[@seansutherland6270]

it was he just called it a sousaphone

[@brananherndon6947]

Frozengames no, sousaphones had an upright bell at first, that was the point

[@MaxRamos8]

You meant Tubad

[@bartimus66]

I play the Tuba and the Susaphone

[@Jman_96]

ELIT3_Bartimus66 same

[@ethanroels5049]

Same

[@riffraffradicalmarchingban4829]

Clearly they have access to both sousaphone and tuba, same but not coz u can bend over easier with one not the other, to suck something right?

[@Joe_1971]

I've been know to play the bonaphone from time to time. Lol

[@wilthogag]

Ironic because we are playing liberty bell (the intro song) Right now in band

[@cassiofreire3335]

Meu sonho é volande ter sozafone eu Não tem condição de ter um

[@kennethdiviney2092]

This guy looks very animated

[@williamlowry2320]

It killed me to see a horn on its end but I guess it wasn't for that long as a marine I would like to see that horn back with usmc

[@MarkArandjus]

3:32 would you look at those impeccable 'staches :D

[@Thatguy-vo5xt]

I think my band teacher Mr.Claiborne has one of those

[@mesirpez]

i love how the baby tubas always gotta try to act like their one of us in everything.

[@tylermccoy4691]

mesirpez are you talking about tennor tubas?

[@mesirpez]

Tyler McCoy Baritones

[@mesirpez]

***** I'm fine with my Sousaphone and Miraphone.

[@jelleypeanuts7866]

does a 3/4 tuba count as a baby tuba?

[@mesirpez]

nah its just a joke Tubists do to eumponiums

[@calebmohan4489]

Too bad I can't play it for marching band or concert band

[@arthurzhang6765]

why not

[@Tubajock2]

It sucks that the Sousaphone sounds so meh outside of marches. Having played Sousaphones for years (and for the past few years exclusively a very old vintage one) I recently got a chance to play a Contra Bb Bugle (Jupiter Quantum) in a marching group and besides being significantly more of a pain than the sousaphone to carry, it sounds so much better by all modern standards as well as play significantly better, and closer to that of the modern Tuba. It has a cool history but the Sousaphone bark does not go well in most settings, and thus its relegated to north american marching bands where bell forward is mandatory (so no Helicons sadly) and Bb contras are the new kid on the block thus just now starting to work there way into bands outside of DCI.

[@jbaylies]

sousaphones sound great in New Orleans Brass Bands too.

[@gizmoduck5919]

Taaa Taaaa

[@Pythonassum]

dat monty python opening music

[@JiveDadson]

Liberty Bell March by John Philip Sousa.

[@Pythonassum]

@@JiveDadson Thanks, worth the wait.

[@mikemortymiller-mullerman5233]

I'd be much more interested in learning about the death of a Sousaphone.

[@theosmith2214]

Mike Morty Miller-Mullerman people still use it. Just on marching bands

[@josephwilson692]

People use them in Jazz Band and Marching Band all the time.

[@brotherantoinemoore7390]

I play sousaphone in Marching band

[@SJKile]

This was such a mesmerizing video until you brought in the political stuff that was introduced by Dillon.

[@Joe_1971]

Who prefers to play the bonaphone?

[@joaonobre9003]

It's funny how americans say the name " Sousa " to us (portuguese) you say " Suza " 😁😁😁😁

[@GrinninPig]

IT'S NOT A TUBA!!