sousaphone
A large brass instrument similar to a tuba but designed to wrap around the player's body, with a forward-facing bell, created for marching bands.
In Depth
The sousaphone was developed in the 1890s at the request of American bandmaster John Philip Sousa, who wanted a tuba that could project sound forward while being comfortable to carry during marches. The instrument wraps around the player's body with the bell pointing forward and upward. Early sousaphones had an upward-facing bell; the forward-facing "rain-catcher" design became standard later.
The sousaphone is the bass voice of American marching bands, New Orleans brass bands, and Balkan brass ensembles. In New Orleans second-line traditions, the sousaphone provides the driving bass lines that propel street parades. Players like Kirk Joseph and Damon "Tuba Fats" Lacen became legends of the New Orleans brass band scene. Modern fiberglass sousaphones weigh about 15 pounds compared to 35+ for brass models, making extended marching more feasible. The instrument has also appeared in indie and experimental music contexts.
John Philip Sousa hated the sousaphone's name and never called it that himself — he referred to it simply as a "new model tuba" and was embarrassed by the eponymous instrument.