how to roar sousa

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soppie04
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how to roar sousa

Post by soppie04 »

hoping someone can help me further here. I play a sousa for quite some years now on a great Reynolds BBb horn. To get an idea of my playing level: With my band I play several pieces from YBBB. Wouldn't dare to say I'm as capable as Nat, but let's say I can play the multiphonics part as well without any trouble. For sometime now I've been trying to "roar", but I can't find anything on the web explaining what's the technique behind this. Can somebody explain me what I'm missing?

The effect I mean is for example in this video (https://youtu.be/g7sY8riYFok" target="_blank) from 2:11 - 2:13

Thx!
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David Richoux
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Re: how to roar sousa

Post by David Richoux »

At 2:11 I am hearing more T-bone on the accent, maybe in unison with the Sousaphone. Later on I hear more "roar" honking behind a trumpet solo and the vocal.

Having the horn amplified helps, but I don't know how to explain how to get there very well - it is a combination of valve position, air flow, and lip action you will have to experiment with to get there.
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bort
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Re: how to roar sousa

Post by bort »

It's been over 10 years since I've picked up a sousaphone... but I seem to remember that the combination of bursts of fast air and tightening up the embrochure had something to do with it. Kind of the opposite of what you'd do to make a big fat open sound. I don't remember it being all that hard to do, but it is a little tricky to keep it under control.
soppie04
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Re: how to roar sousa

Post by soppie04 »

interesting answers...sometimes missing the obvious, so the lip slur tip did it. controlling it is the trick, but more practice should do it. Maybe I'll visit bloketown next time

Thx!
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Steve Oberheu
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Re: how to roar sousa

Post by Steve Oberheu »

The easy answer: push all valves down, blow fast and hard, slide the pitch up and down as you see fit.
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