Help with Christmas music

[Brassworks 4]

Try visiting my site at:

http://brassworks4.com

There is a section for Christmas Music - tuba/euph ensembles can be found at the "various ensembles" tab under Christmas.

Or you can select Tuba/Euph for the full catalog (Christmas titles included there as well)

[BVD Press]

So, I'm doing my own thing. I've been told that it's not legal to use the actual tuba Christmas books without their permission. I need some suggestions on a collection or two that I could use for Tubas and euphs. We'll have a mix of High school, JH, and adults.

On the BrassWorks4 or Cimarron site, check out the Good Cheer Collection or Santa's Favorites. There are lots of individual tunes as well.

It sounds like a great time, but it is a shame that you are attempting to do something to help fellow tuba/euphonium players and the rules of TubaChristmas may not allow you to use their book. Gotta wonder about that?

Doesn't Ray Grim hold a similar event each year in Texas?

[chipster55]

However, Tuba Christmas said we were within 50 miles of an existing chapter so we couldn't have one.

I find that interesting because we have TubaChristmas in Dallas and Ft. Worth. Granted, both events are coordinated by the same person (Dr. Steve Shoop). Have you spoken with the Houston coordinator to see if he would be interested in expanding? We're attempting to have a 3rd event in the metroplex and Dr. Shoop got permission from the Phillips family to do it. The only requirement is that the event does not conflict with the other 2.

[scottw]

However, Tuba Christmas said we were within 50 miles of an existing chapter so we couldn't have one.

I find that interesting because we have TubaChristmas in Dallas and Ft. Worth. Granted, both events are coordinated by the same person (Dr. Steve Shoop). Have you spoken with the Houston coordinator to see if he would be interested in expanding? We're attempting to have a 3rd event in the metroplex and Dr. Shoop got permission from the Phillips family to do it. The only requirement is that the event does not conflict with the other 2.

Likewise, we have one event in Philadelphia, another about 25 miles away in Lansdale, and another about 7-8 miles away in South Jersey. Curious that someone would develop a rule for you guys and ignore it elsewhere!

[Tom]

However, Tuba Christmas said we were within 50 miles of an existing chapter so we couldn't have one.

I find that interesting because we have TubaChristmas in Dallas and Ft. Worth. Granted, both events are coordinated by the same person (Dr. Steve Shoop). Have you spoken with the Houston coordinator to see if he would be interested in expanding? We're attempting to have a 3rd event in the metroplex and Dr. Shoop got permission from the Phillips family to do it. The only requirement is that the event does not conflict with the other 2.

Hmm...

Am I the only one that remembers when there were about a dozen TubaChristmas events in the DFW area?

I guess that has come to an end

[Carroll]

..., there was a site on "that internet auction site" and I picked up a full set (4 tuba parts) with piano on 15 or 20 carols. It was $5.01 total and was an "over the net"
transaction, start to finish.

Thanks for the tip johnny jones. I write a lot of difficult arrangements for my quartet, but sometimes I get a call and have to put together a pick-up quartet and sight read a gig. These (Windsor Publications) are perfect for that. I was not relishing the idea of writing a whole new, easy book for these kinds of jobs. Now I do not have to!

These are easy enough for my High School students to go out caroling without rehearsal (just a run through) and without me.

[tofu]

I've been told that it's not legal to use the actual tuba Christmas books without their permission.

I can see how legally they can prohibit copies being made of the books, but how can they prohibit folks from using legally bought books? It seems to me that the same rules apply to these books that apply to sheet music bought from any other publisher. I don't think they can keep you from using legally bought books.

Harvey Philips is a great guy, has done as much if not more than anybody else for the tuba, the foundation does a lot of good stuff, but this intimidation of folks is a little over the top. I mean after all isn't the idea to get folks to appreciate the tuba and the music it can produce as well as celebrate Bill Bell's birthday and spread the joy of the season with music. Stopping folks from using their own legally bought books seems a little Grinch like.

I just took a look through my book and I not only don't see anything that says they can only be used at Official TubaChristmas events I also don't see anything that says they can't be reproduced. Perhaps the newer copies do, but mine doesn't.

[BVD Press]

Harvey Philips is a great guy, has done as much if not more than anybody else for the tuba, the foundation does a lot of good stuff, .

There was a thread a week or so concerning this issue if anyone is interested:

viewtopic.php?t=24246

[TubaRay]

Wade's rant is kind of the reason I will continue attending Ray's event over the TC here in Austin. The focus just seems more on the good time over what happens at the registration table.
Ken F.

Thanks for the kind words, Ken. Here are some of the reasons we decided to do our own event:

1)The cost for participants who don't already have the TubaChristmas book was causing some folks to simply decide not to participate.

2)So much of the registration fees were required by the TubaChristmas folks that we had trouble covering all of our expenses in putting on the event.

3)In our opinion, not all of the TubaChristmas charts are playable by the very young players.

For the above reasons, and some others as well, we decided to put on our own event. These days, we print and use our own arrangements. We also ask for a $5 donation(we do not require it). All funds collected are used to defray expenses. We also try very hard to make the event fun and accessible to all who decide to participate.

To get in an early commercial message(or shameless plug, if you prefer), this year's event in San Antonio will be on Sat., Dec. 15th. More information will follow. We will once again perform at the Arneson River Theater, right on the beautiful San Antonio river.

Besides the general invitation to all, a special standing invitation goes out to former San Antonio residents Rick Denney and Wade Rackley. Any time it works out that you can come, I hope you will.