Jack Richardson: “The Big Man with the Big Horn” – Dave Detwiler
Jack Richardson: “The Big Man with the Big Horn” By Dave Detwiler You don’t expect to see a little boy in a cigar shop. But…
Author: Dave Detwiler
Sousaphone Milestones in Sousa’s Incredible Band – Dave Detwiler
Sousaphone Milestones in Sousa’s Incredible Band By Dave Detwiler Today, the notion would probably be laughable. But in 1922, John Philip Sousa was dead serious…
HERITAGE: Marching through the Early History of the Sousaphone
For about a century now, the most visible member of the tuba family-at least in America-has been the Sousaphone. Today, for example, if you catch…
UPDATE ON THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE SOUSAPHONE
There are at least two things I’ve learned since writing my article, “Marching through the Early History of the Sousaphone” (ITEA Journal 42:3, Spring 2015).…
WHEN SAM CONQUERED THE BEAST AT HARVARD
There is no question that Sam Pilafian stood tall among tubists. But he was also well-aware that he was shorter than many of the world’s…
THE HARVARD TUBA (PART 1): Clarifying Its Colorful History
Prodigious. According to Merriam-Webster, this adjective is defined as: 1) Causing amazement or wonder; 2) Extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree: Enormous. If you were…
THE HARVARD TUBA (PART 2): Recounting its Glorious Restoration
(last revised October 31, 2019) On June 28, 2019, I had the chance to sit down with Steve Dillon, owner of Dillon Music in New…
WHEN MONSTER BASSISTS ROAMED THE BACKWOODS OF ONTARIO By Dave Detwiler
The Anglo Canadian Leather Co. Band and Its World-Class Tuba Players One of the most fascinating but largely forgotten chapters of the golden age of…
An Engraved Invitation
Exploring the Stories Behind a Vintage Conn BBb Bass Dave Detwiler – for the ITEA Journal (April 4, 2022) On a sleepy Saturday morning this…
ADOLPHE SAX AND THE WORLD’S LARGEST TUBA By Dave Detwiler
For over three years now, I have been exploring the wonderful world of giant tubas because, well, why not?! Tubas are already the largest…