Tuba with projection

[Alex C]

Just the thing for that next important performance with your local Philharmonic Orchestra... and only a $50,000.00 starting bid and you don't have to watch the conductor!

I'll take two.

[cheburashka]

Another reason why people should use permeable membranes when making decorative covers for the bells of their marching tubas. It looks like somebody blew so hard that the horn's bell uncurled itself!

[Tom Holtz]

Wish I'd had one of these in pep band. I bet "Hey Baby" cooks on this thing.

[james]

Of course you couldn't see the conductor. If you were facing him he would REALLY complain about you dragging as your sound would be going backwards. If you notice, this is a real civil war tuba. During this time, brass bands marched IN FRONT OF the troops and played "back" towards the soldiers in order to "encourage (ahem...lure)" them on in battle. Look it up in any all-inclusive american wind band textbook. Hey Tom, how does that sound? Should the marine band re-adopt this for Operation Iraqi Freedom?

quoted from http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/music/bands.html
"Bands used several types of brass instruments -- upright, bell-front, circular, and over-the-shoulder (the latter configuration was designed so that the troops marching behind the bands could hear the music)."

[Alex C]

Have you every thought how it must have been to be a musician in front of the army as they marched? They would have been the first ones shot if attacked unexpectedly.

Ergo, sousaphones must represent an evolutionary jump in the intelligence of military musicians as they moved to the back of the army.

My high school band director was in an army unit and the band's assignment, in case of battle, was as stretcher bearers. They weren't even issued guns. It's just as well.

[windshieldbug]

Have you every thought how it must have been to be a musician in front of the army as they marched?

Or in Custer's case, the first ones to see ALL those native Americans... and the troops could still hear you while YOU made a quick exit...

[JimG]

Have you every thought how it must have been to be a musician in front of the army as they marched? They would have been the first ones shot if attacked unexpectedly.

Battles were different then...more organized. The musicians were often underaged and did not fight...therefore they wore a different color uniform and were typically not fired upon.