We wish you a Merry TubaChristmas !

TubaChristmas Web Site. ^ | 26 NOV 2008 | Original Christian

[OriginalChristian]

TUBACHRISTMAS was conceived in 1974 as a tribute to the late artist/teacher William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day, 1902. Through the legendary William J. Bell we reflect on our heritage and honor all great artists/teachers whose legacy has given us high performance standards, well structured pedagogy, professional integrity, personal values and a camaraderie envied by all other instrumentalists.

The first TUBACHRISTMAS was conducted by the late Paul Lavalle in New York City's Rockefeller Center Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974. Traditional Christmas music performed at the first TUBACHRISTMAS was arranged by American composer Alec Wilder who ironically died on Christmas Eve, 1980. Wilder composed many solo and ensemble compositions for tuba and euphonium. He was a loyal supporter of every effort to improve the literature and public image of our chosen instruments. Through Alec Wilder we express our respect and gratitude to all composers who continue to embrace our instruments with their compositions and contribute to the ever growing solo and ensemble repertoire for tuba and euphonium.

[OriginalChristian]

If you are a Christmas/music lover: Please use the web site above and the state locator to find the Tuba Christmas concert being planned near you. I have played in several of these events myself over the years and they are great fun for the performers and the audience. They usually last no more than one hour and provide a unique way to usher in the Christmas season.

If you are a tuba or euphonium player: You are again invited to participate in one or more of the TUBACHRISTMAS concerts/events presented throughout the world. Please use the state locator function at the website above to find the Tuba Christmas being planned near you. If you participate, its an experience you won't soon forget.

[freemama]

Teh tuba professor at my college organized these in our city 20 years ago. They are really cool! When the tubas all played, the Christmas tree would shake from the vibrations!

[OriginalChristian]

I played in one outside the Wrigley building in Chicago, Christmastime, 1983. We liked to froze to death from that wind. Shortly thereafter they moved the Chicago TubaChristmas indoors to the Palmer House Hilton for the protection of all involved.

[exhaustedmomma]

My youngest son started playing the tuba in the 6th grade. He ended up with a music scholarship to Baylor. (Although his major was chemistry.) Playing the tuba initially was nothing short of a "light house warning" sound. But, he learned to actually play "music" on the thing! And more importantly, had the time of his life! The tuba section is just an awesome part of the band. Tuba Christmas was always one of the highlights of the year. The tuba section always dressed up themselves, and their tubas, accordingly!

Tuba bump

[walford]

I played the tuba and sousaphone throughout junior and senior high school. The power of playing such instruments was intoxicating.