In 1892, bandleader John Philip Sousa commissioned the sousaphone, a large brass instrument designed for marching bands with a forward-facing bell. Developed with instrument makers, it improved projection and mobility. It became iconic in American band music and parades.

The development of the sousaphone in 1892 popularized brass instruments in public performances, closely tied to patriotic and folk poetic songs. This innovation influenced the lyrical content of poetry, as it became a vehicle for communal expression and national pride.