[Dixielandjazz] Re: Double Basses

[dhs at ev1.net]

Dear Listers:

I believe that the term double bass arose because when the string bass was
developed, its first employment was doubling the cello part an octave down.
String bass parts are played and sound as written.  Eventually, they became
distinctly separate from cello parts, too.

The John Philip Sousaphone was an instrument designed to give the look of a
marching horn, and the sound of an upright tuba.  The Sousa Band virtually
never marched.  Bell-front horns send a very different sound out to the
audience.  In a concert band setting, they are best reserved for outdoor
use, or in an auditorium with very dead acoustics.

I once played my bell-front Holton when I was the only tuba player in a
concert band of about 70, and wanted to be sure I was heard.  The Holton did
a wonderful job.

Instrument makers noted the utility of the sousaphone for being carried and
marched with, and turned the bell forward so that sousaphones numbers of
rows back in a marching band could be heard ahead--sort of the reverse of
the over-the-shoulder style of the saxhorn.

Regards,
Dave Stoddard
Round Rock, TX