TubeNet's Own Ray Grim in the News: TubaMeister Christmas

[Steve Marcus]

Low brasses poised to hit a high note

Web Posted: 12/15/2005 12:00 AM CST

Jim Beal Jr.
San Antonio Express-News

The TubaMeisters and their low brass compatriots are poised to, once again, blow stereotypes out of the water.
TubaMeister Christmas
Where: Arneson River Theater, River Walk at La Villita
When: Noon Saturday
Admission: Free

Saturday at noon, the Arneson River Theater, on the River Walk at the north edge of La Villita, will be the scene for the 27th annual TubaMeister Christmas. Admission is free.

The river environs will be alive with the sounds of tubas, baritone horns, sousaphones and euphoniums.

"The impetus is to kind of promote the instruments in a more positive way," said TubaMeister tuba player and TubaMeister Christmas founder Ray Grim. "There are low-brass ensembles around the country. In New York City, they get 400 players together at Rockefeller Center."

The TubaMeisters, the long-running quartet of Grim and Richard Wallace (tubas) and Carl Lobitz and Ezra Johnson (euphoniums), are at the heart of the concert. They're joined by an array of players ranging from young students to tuba veterans.

"I'm not sure you could put all the participants under one umbrella," Grim said, laughing. "They come from all walks of life and all age groups. What they have in common is they all enjoy playing the instruments. Some come out of curiosity. Some have been coming for years. Some (like Grim) are school band directors who are interested in retaining their students and in future recruiting."

Anyone who plays the lowest of low brass instruments is welcome to gather at St. John's Lutheran Church, across the street from La Villita at 502 E. Nueva St., at 9:45 a.m. Saturday for registration. There will be a rehearsal at 10:30. Participants are asked to contribute $5 to help defray the cost of printing the music. Players also are reminded to bring lyres or music stands.

"We've put together about a dozen Christmas carols," Grim said. "Over the past five years we've averaged about 80 participants. The concert lasts about 45 minutes. The TubaMeisters usually play a few more sophisticated arrangements and the group plays more straightforward arrangements."

In some musical cultures such as New Orleans brass bands, Mexican bandas and traditional German, Czech and Polish bands, the tuba remains well-regarded. But negative stereotypes do abound but, Grim said, "We're working to change that."

Besides the loyal participants, the TubaMeister Christmas draws a loyal audience. And then the tourists get a treat, especially those on the river barges.

"They start bringing out the cameras," Grim said, laughing again. "Most people are generally surprised, but we know it can sound good. People should just listen to the whole blend of instruments, at how full-sounding it is. It doesn't sound like anything else you've ever heard."

jbeal@express-news.net

[TubaRay]

That looks like a safe bet, Ken. We'll be lucky if we make 50 degrees. We have been very fortunate through the years of having this event. Rain and cold weather have seldom been a factor. We may not be so lucky this year.

By the way: Jim Beal, who wrote the article is a bass player. He tells me he has had the urge to buy a sousaphone, just for the heck of it. During the interview, he indicated how tuba players, usually sousaphone players, were very highly regarded in New Orleans and similar musical scenes.

I hope you(Ken) can make it down for this. And I hope many others will be there, too. Bring a friend. If you are a TubeNet member, be sure to come say hello.