Sousaphones were never used in Symphonic Orchestras?

[David Richoux]

I was thinking about the orchestra in the original Disney Fantasia opening segment. Leopold Stokowski - Philadelphia Orchestra, 1940.

Fantasia.jpg

[David Richoux]

The strange thing is that earlier in the opening sequence somebody walks on stage with a tuba (and there was also an Alto or possibly Tenor Horn.)

[iiipopes]

John "Chief" Kuhn played one often, especially for the early days of recording when the double basses and upright bells just would not pick up well with early recording technology. It's exactly why the front-facing bells on tubas are called recording bells.

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[P@rick]

...and what about Helicons...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xcMzS-T ... et="_blank

[DonShirer]

Well technically that's a wind ensemble, not an orchestra, but it's a great piece. Thanks for letting us know about it!

[TUbajohn20J]

I would love to use a sousaphone in an orchestra. There is some kind of joy that I get out of playing sousaphone that I dont get from tubas.