[PW] 76 Trombones - thanks

[Fuller, Thomas (US - Washington D.C.)]

Thanks to all who responded, on- and off-list.  It looks like there
actually were bands that large, or larger, although whether any of them
"marched", as indicated by the "parade" reference in the lyrics, may be
unclear.

Just for the record:

The "one and only bass" had to be a Sousaphone.  Nobody marches with a
vertical tuba -- they're too heavy to be hand-held while marching, and
too hard to handle.  

The reference to "big bassoons" is a clear indication that Harold was
pulling a fast one.  Double reeds, like oboes, English horns, and
bassons, don't march.  The reeds break in your mouth.

And if "horns of every shape and kind" included a subcontrabass tubax
saxophone, I'd like to see the poor sap who had to drag it along.  Take
a gander at this monster at

http://www.eppelsheim.com/tubax_bb.php 

(Scroll down to the bottom for the best picture -- note that it rests on
the ground when played.)  The octocontrabass clarinet wouldn't have been
much fun, either:

http://www.contrabass.com/pages/octobass.html

-- Tom 

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