From Helicon to Sousaphone

As Sousa mentioned below, the Sousaphone was essentially an adapted Helicon (a coiled bass instrument first produced in Vienna in 1845, the name coming from the Greek word for "the mountain of the Muses" - apparently being only coincidentally related to the word helix, meaning "a coil"). You can see the similarities here, with a Helicon on the left and a Sousaphone on the right (both in BBb; from a Conn advertisment in 1907):

The primary difference is the bell size and direction. The Helicon bell is considerably smaller, and points somewhat forward and to the left of the player (and it is not detachable), enabling the instrument to be carried easily by the player, whether he was on foot or on horseback (yep, they rode with these instruments in cavalry bands!). But it also created the tone that was, according to Sousa, "apt to shoot ahead too prominently and explosively to suit me for concert performances."

Above is a Helicon imported for J. W. Pepper in the 1880s, and below is that very first Sousaphone built by Pepper following Sousa's request in 1892. And so begins the life of this unusual member of the tuba family.

UPDATE: For more about the history of the helicon - especially in Sousa's Band - click here.

Sousa on the first Sousaphone (1922)

The Sousaphone, as you could probably guess, was named in honor of John Philip Sousa, the famous band leader and composer (1854-1932). But what's the story behind the first Sousaphone?

In a very interesting article in the August 30, 1922 edition of the Christian Science Monitor, with the title seen above, along with a photo of Sousa's star Sousaphonist at that time, the great bandmaster himself recounted this:

Here we learn that:

•  Sousa himself came up with the idea for this new horn.
• This was while he was still with the Marine Band (1892)
• It was made by the J. W. Pepper Company (not Conn, as many have claimed over the years - although Sousa clearly preferred Conn Sousaphones, as noted in his quote).
• It had an upright bell, like a tuba (although larger), but with a Helicon-type body, meaning that it rested on the left shoulder.
• It was created for concert purposes, not marching. This is a big surprise to most people.
• Mr. Pepper honored Sousa by calling it a "Sousaphone."

And just for fun, here is Sousa in 1922, the year of the quote above, with one of the two large, four-valve Conn Sousaphones featured in the band at that time (the little guy "playing" the horn is young actor Jackie Coogan) - and it may be the very horn shown with Bell in the photo above:

How I got interested in all this

While on sabbatical this summer, I had the opportunity to take my family to the Interlochen Center for the Arts, in Interlochen, Michigan, where I had been both a student (National Music Camp, 1979) and a staff member (NMC, 1981, Interlochen Arts Academy, 1984-86).

I recalled from those years that "The Original Sousaphone" was on display there in the Giddings Concourse. As a former Sousaphone player (USC Trojan Marching Band, 1979-83), I was hoping to check it out again, but it was no longer to be seen - that is, until I was directed to a room in the library basement where I met John Beery, who is the curator for the impressive Greenleaf collection of instruments.

John very graciously not only allowed me to see the horn, but also to hold it and play it a bit, as pictured above. Needless to say, I was  thrilled!

The framed information sheet that had accompanied the Sousaphone when it was on display features a photo of Herman Conrad (who was with Sousa's band from 1892-1903) and says the following:

The Original Sousaphone, 1898 - This double Bb instrument was built especially for John Philip Sousa's band in 1898. It was a variety of a Helicon, with the bell opening upward. To honor Sousa, the name "Sousaphone" was suggested by Herman Conrad, a six-foot eight-inch giant who was the first man to play the Sousaphone professionally, using it on a world tour. Conrad's immense stature, together with the fact that this was the largest band instrument ever manufactured, caused the "Monster Sousaphone," as it was called, to be come a sensation. This instrument has been around the world many times and had been played before every king and queen and head of state of every country by 1931 when it was returned to Conn. It sold for $250 in 1898. Ten years later, in 1908, Conn built the first bell front Sousaphone which is the most popular type in the American band of today.

Upon returning home, I began to research the invention of the Sousaphone and began to wonder just how much of what that info sheet says is true. Is it really the very first Sousaphone? I quickly learned that there was debate about the claim. Further, did Conrad actually play it while he was with Sousa's band? And was he the one to suggest calling it a "Sousaphone."? (And, okay, was he really that tall?!).

Answers to all of these questions, and many others, will (eventually) be answered in this blog.

Regarding the name of this blog

When I was a young boy, way back in elementary school, I took up the Sousaphone as my instrument of choice. Actually, I wanted to play the tuba, but it was too big for me at that time, so that either meant starting on a baritone (not interested) or playing the fiberglass Sousaphone that sat in a special chair, into which I crawled in order to play.

From that moment onward, I was hooked! My family noticed this, and one Christmas purchased the record album that you see posted here. Strictly Oompah!

Of course, I came to learn that there was much more to playing the tuba than "strictly oompah," but it was a start. And in starting this blog, I gladly go back to my earliest days.