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

[Steve Barbone]

James O'Briant at jobriant at garlic.com wrote:

>> Steve Barbone wrote:
 
>> Subject: Tubapalooza - 73 Tuna Players Toot
>> at Philly's TUBACHRISTMAS
 
> Methinks there's something fishy about the spelling in the subject line.

Oops, or was I poking fun at fish horn players, trying to transfer the tag
for Sop Sax to Tuba.
 
> The journalist left out one major detail:  Why is there a TubaChristmas a
> all?  Because William "Bill" Bell, the premier tuba virtuoso of the first
> half of the 20th Century, was born in Creston, IA on December 25, 1902.
> Tubist Harvey Phillips founded TubaChristmas and wrote the arrangements in
> honor of Bell.  There is one non-Christmas title in the TubaChristmas books:
> "Komm, Susser Tod" ("Come, Sweet Death") by J.S. Bach, a chorale which was
> Bell's favorite piece of music.

As Jim says, there is a lot of history that goes with Tuba Christmas
performances Below is more about the history of TUBA CHRISTMAS or go to:
http://www.tubachristmas.com/

ATTENTION ALL TUBA AND EUPHONIUM PLAYERS
You are again invited to participate in one or more of the TUBACHRISTMAS
concerts/events presented throughout the world. 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 Plaza 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.

For more about the LEGENDARY William J. Bell . . . well age age 18 in 1921,
John Phillip Sousa asked him to become Principal Tuba in his band, without
even auditioning him.

Then in 1924 he became principal tuba of the Cincinnati Symphony.

Then Principal Tuba in the NBC orchestra under Toscanini.

Then in 1943, he became Principal Tuba in the NY Philharmonic. Where he and
Leopold Stowkowski performmed Tubby The Tuba as well as When Yuba plays the
Rhumba on the Tuba.

All the while moonlighting in various marching and brass bands around the
NYC area. He love "band" music.

He joined the Indiana University School of Music Faculty in 1961, retiring
In 1971. Following in his footsteps was former student Harvey G. Phillips
who, on his appointment, established the William Bell Memorial Scholarship.
Shortly after his retirement in May, 1971, Bell became ill and passed away
on August 7, 1971. On October 3, 1971, in the IU School of Music's Recital
Hall, Phillips hosted a memorial concert (followed by a wake) honoring
William Bell. On this program were world premiere performances of works
Phillips commissioned especially for the occasion; works by Robert Russell
Bennett, Paul Lavalle, Morton Gould, Alec Wilder, Warren Benson, and Gunther
Schuller In 1973, in IU's newly constructed Musical Arts Center Phillips
hosted the First International Tuba Symposium-Workshop, dedicated to William
J. Bell. In 1974, inspired by William Bell's Birth on Christmas Day (1902),
Phillips founded the now famous MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS concerts which honor
William Bell and, through him, all artists/teachers of the tuba and
euphonium; these concerts take place in over 150 cities and often involve as
many as 300-500+ players.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone