Re: Re: helicons vs. sousaphone?


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Posted by Volker on May 29, 2003 at 08:19:50:

In Reply to: Re: helicons vs. sousaphone? posted by Preston James on May 29, 2003 at 07:50:52:

I think you cannot generalize this. I heard great sousaphone sounds (of vintage sousas), not being second to some of the best concert tubas, but I also heard terribly sounding helicons (the characteristicum "noise" would be more suitable than "sound").
If you read in Sousa's biography, you'll find him come to the same conclusion - which obviously forced him to designing the sousaphone - originally as a raincatcher version though. The Hoch- and Deutschmeister tradition band of Vienna still sticks on the old
brass configuration of the 19th century by for example using helicons and bass trumpets
etc. (even in obsolete pitch), with a very doubtful sound quality result from my point of taste. On the other hand, I heard good reviews about that factory available Cerveny Kaiser 4-banger helicon.
Volker "disliking any kind of stereotypes" Lantelme


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