[Dixielandjazz] Tubapalooza - 73 Tuna Players Toot at Philly's TUBACHRISTMAS

[Steve Barbone]

Even Carol Jantsch, the pretty and very talented 20 something principal Tuba
from the Philadelphia Orchestra was there at the 6th annual Kimmel Center
TUBACHRISTMAS. BTW, Ms. Jantsch plays some damn good OKOM when the spirit
moves her.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone


HARK THE HERALD TUBAS TOOT
By Peter Dobrin -  Inquirer Music Critic - December 2, 2007

This is the story about tubas and Christmas that doesn't poke fun at tubas -
nothing tongue-in-cheek, no low blows. And only one joke about how many tuba
players it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

So we'll trade the good-natured jabs for tuba love and respect, which is
easy to do after yesterday's tubapalooza at the Kimmel Center. As the first
December light streamed into the Kimmel's plaza, 73 tuba players heralded
the season's arrival with an hour's worth of Christmas and other holiday
tunes.

If you've never experienced the full impact of 73 tubas and euphoniums - and
how many of us have? - what's surprising is how warm and plummy a blanket it
produces.

"It has a really mellow sound," said Bobbie Stubee, a tuba enthusiast from
Millville, N.J., who has been coming to gatherings like this one almost
every Christmas season since 1990 (and has the buttons from each one to
prove it). "Think of a church organ."

Yesterday's tuba event was the Kimmel's sixth. But it's the local
outcropping of TUBACHRISTMAS (the letters are large like the instrument),
for 34 years an annual happening with hundreds of concerts in the United
States, Canada and Switzerland at which tubists play Christmas songs.

This year's local TUBACHRISTMAS drew more tuba players than ever. The big
brass choir got a good showing from college kids and high schoolers, as well
as older erstwhile tuba students. A few professionals turned up.

The local queen of tubadom, Philadelphia Orchestra principal Carol Jantsch,
played with her instrument decorated in garland and red bows.

And then there were amateurs who might tighten their embouchures and clear
the spit valves only a few times a year.

"It's a tough gig," said Anita Kranz, who works for American Express when
she's not loving being a part of a group producing "big, super-dark
sonorities."

Others do the yearly event for the visibility it gives the instrument.

"It makes people appreciate the tuba more," said Jay Krush, the Philadelphia
tuba player who brought this tradition to the Kimmel. "It's the unsung hero
in the back of the orchestra."

Tuba players might feel unsung, but tuba brother- and sisterhood has yielded
a culture all its own, which brings us to the other thing tuba players are
known for besides their big brass instruments: beer.

No one is quite sure why they seem to go together, but the link finds its
way into the canon of tuba humor.

As in how many tuba players it takes to screw in a lightbulb: The answer is
three. One to hold the bulb and two to drink until the room starts to spin.

No beer steins could be heard clacking in the Kimmel's plaza yesterday, even
though the snack bar does sell drinks.

Explained Krush: "It might be a little pricy for tuba players."