21st annual Tuba Christmas slated for Dec. 2
HUNTSVILLE — The Rocket City is inviting all tuba, baritone and euphonium players to break out their instruments and spread Christmas cheer to the community through musical entertainment Sunday, Dec. 2.
In this subcomponent of a global event, the low brass instruments will take center stage in a somewhat rare opportunity to showcase the beauty of their deep, rich tones.
Tuba Christmas began in 1974 as a way for tuba player and professor Harvey Phillips to honor his own teacher and mentor, William J. Bell, who was coincidentally born on Christmas in 1902. This year, the Rocket City performance will be held on Phillips’ birthday.
“Through the legendary William J. Bell we reflect on our heritage and honor all great artists [and] 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 Tuba Christmas website reads.
The first Tuba Christmas performance was held Dec. 22, 1974, in New York City. The musicians, under the direction of Paul Lavalle, filled the Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink with traditional Christmas music arranged by American composer Alec Wilder. Wilder had composed several pieces for tuba and euphonium during his lifetime.
“He was a loyal supporter of every effort to improve the literature and public image of our chosen instruments,” the website noted. “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.”
Harvey Phillips, “Titan of the Tuba” and founder of Tuba Christmas. (Photo: blogs.music.indiana.edu)
Phillips, who died in 2010 at 80 years old, was called the “Titan of the Tuba” by The New York Times. The Harvey Phillips Foundation, the nonprofit organization behind the continuation of the Tuba Christmas tradition, is dedicated to “…developing, expanding, and preserving the music arts….” The foundation chooses to focus on the instruments “not ordinarily the object of other support.”
According to the website, these goals are achieved through scholarship assistance at select, established institutions who contribute to the advancement of musical talent, public appreciation of music and performing arts as a whole, among other things.
The moving local performance will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Huntsville beginning at 4 p.m. Anyone interested in performing should arrive between 1-1:30 p.m. to register. Rehearsal will begin at 1:30 p.m. According to the website, registration will be available onsite and will entail a $10 tax-deductible donation as the registration fee. Participants are encouraged to “dress festively,” decorate their instruments and come prepared with a carrying strap, as well as a music stand.
Rocket City Tuba Christmas is free and open to the public. According to local event information, the church will have “plenty of parking” onsite.
Dr. Danny Hutson will conduct this year’s Rocket City Tuba Christmas performance, while Philip Moore is serving as the event coordinator. To become a coordinator elsewhere, find out how to contribute to the Harvey Phillips Foundation or read more about Tuba Christmas, visit tubachristmas.com.
Covenant Presbyterian Church is located at 301 Drake Ave. SW in Huntsville.
