Tuba Christmas in August Making News!

[tubapress]

Let Tuba Christmas in Bethlehem Jingle Your Bell

By Philip A. Metzger
Special to The Allentown Morning Call


Calling all tubas …

And euphoniums (euphonia?), baritones and sousaphones, too.

TubaChristmas is arriving in Bethlehem Aug. 8 for Musikfest. And since it's Christmas all year long in Bethlehem, this isn't all that far-fetched.

The event celebrating the glory of these big brass instruments is open to all players, who are asked to show up at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 8, preferably with a registration form taken from the TubaChristmas Web site (www.tubachristmas.com/tcaugust.htm), filled out and in hand (although forms will be available on site). Registration is on the day of the event, and costs $5. There is no audition. Participants receive an identifying pin, which is theirs to keep.

This is the first TubaChristmas in Bethlehem, although it's an event that began in 1974 with a TubaChristmas at Rockefeller Center in New York, says Ron Demkee, conductor of the Allentown Band, assistant conductor of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and organizer of this event.

Tuba educator Harvey Phillips, who at Indiana University was reputed to be the first to hold a professorship in the instrument, arranged the event in memory of his own teacher, William Bell, who was born on Christmas Day 1902, and spent part of his career playing in the John Philip Sousa band. For that first incarnation of TubaChristmas, special musical arrangements were made by Alex Wilder and the tuba ensemble was conducted by Paul Lavalle.

The idea has since spread across the United States and the world. Last Christmas an Army band in Baghdad put on a TubaChristmas, according to Demkee.

Over the years this event has developed its own canonical literature, which the Musikfest event will draw on. ''Carols for a Merry TubaChristmas,'' arranged by Alex Wilder and Norlan Bewley, will be used, along with Bewley's ''Summertubatime-Book I.''

Both will be required for the event, and may be obtained in advance for $15 each through the TubaChristmas Web site or for $12 each on Aug. 8.

After registration at 11:30 a.m. at Americaplatz, which is in front of the Bethlehem Public Library, a rehearsal will begin at 12:30 p.m. A concert will be 3-4 p.m. at Americaplatz. Since the rehearsal will be out in public, it could function as a concert for those unable to attend the concert.

The program will be conducted jointly by Demkee and Dr. Christian Wilhjelm, director of the Goldman Memorial Band in New York City. It will begin with ''The Star Spangled Banner'' and include a variety of carols and popular American tunes, all in four-part arrangements.

Demkee says he has no idea how many players will show up. As a listener, I find reason enough to attend in being able to hear ''In the Good Old Summertime'' immediately followed by ''O Little Town of Bethlehem.''

TubaChristmas, 3 p.m. Aug. 8, Musikfest, Americaplatz, Bethlehem.
$5 registration at the door for participants / Free for audience

For more info visit www.tubachristmas.com/tcaugust.htm or www.basementregister.com

[Tuba-G Bass]

I plan to participate
!

[tubapress]

I plan to participate
!

Great! It looks like this is shaping up to be quite a spectacular day! Looking forward to seeing you there.

[Lew]

As a 3 time Lehigh grad I would love to get back to Bethlehem, unfortunately it's not in the cards this year. Have a great time!

[TubaRay]

Things in Texas are often too far from Texas(or at least this part of Texas).

[Dean E]

I plan to participate!

Great! It looks like this is shaping up to be quite a spectacular day! Looking forward to seeing you there.

I did six TubaChristmases last December, my first playing in nearly forty years, and had a blast.

I'll be at the TubaChristmas in August to have a good time learning from the oldsters and youngsters there.

A remarkable requirement for performing tubists is to dress in neat and clean clothing.

The Musikfest schedule is long and varied. Alice Cooper and Roseanne Cash are scheduled for Saturday evening.

http://www.mymusikfest.com/

[tubapress]

Response has been pretty awesome! I have heard from folks all over the East coming from as far away as Baltimore and Boston! Do I hear California??

We have updated the websites -- www.tubachristmas.com / www.basementregister.com -- with driving directions. You can also find them here: http://www.musikfest.org/04/04Directions.asp

The Summer Tubatime books have been shipped to PA and will be available at the door.

The best parking option is to park in one of the outer lots and take the shuttle into Americaplatz. You may want to drop your instrument off at Americaplatz and then park.

Remember: Registration begins at 11:30am. Get there early and explore Musikfest before rehearsal starts!

See you there!

[tubapress]

Right now the forecast calls for Partly Cloudy skies and a high of 78! Perfecto!