Tubaler's Holiday on YouTube

[Mr. Nesmith]

Wanted to share the link to my re-orchestration of Tubaler's Holiday from the Feb. 19, 2012 concert that Gene Pokorny, Charlie Warren and I performed with the Laguna Concert Band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnuDLR49uE8" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

There are other videos from the concert including Gene playing Tubby the Tuba with yours truly as narrator! BTW, I have revised my sale price for Tubaler's Holiday. If you're interested, please contact me privately.

Cheers,
Bob
bobjoles@me.com" target="_blank" target="_blank

[swillafew]

I did this myself with Joe Antram and Michael Grant at BGSU in 1984. Too much fun!

[opus37]

I've been thinking of working up the piccolo part for Stars and Stripes, but after reading Bloke's post, I'm rethinking the idea. He is right, we shouldn't be trying to steal the great parts from other instruments just to be cute or to prove we can do it. We just have to get the director to select compositions written with tuba solos/features.

[J.c. Sherman]

Funnily enough, the piccolo player in one of my orchestras asked ME if I wanted to do the piccolo part next year... she thought it'd be cool! You bet I'm doing it (conductor approved, thak goodness!).

I've done this work too, and it is a mud fest and very difficult to make distinct, as bloke pointed out. This is the best I've heard the final product - bravo!

[greatk82]

Where can I find the Double Concerto?

[Mr. Nesmith]

This post is meant to clarify a few misconceptions from some of the posters above. The arrangement that I made of TUBALER'S HOLIDAY is NOT in the original "trumpet" key of Bb/Eb/Bb. That key, while perfect for trumpets, IS a complete "mud-fest" for tubas! However, I transposed the entire piece up a perfect forth. A fair amount of work re-orchestrating Leroy Anderson if I do say so myself. The muddiness in the playing that "seems" apparent in the video is due in great part to the mic being on the video camera that was positioned in the back of the theater. I will say however, that a friend of mine watched the video of Tubaler's Holiday and told me that it reminded him of "the Indy 500… with buses!" That comment really made me laugh!

As to the guest tubists "taking over" the piccolo obligato in Stars & Stripes, that was the idea of one of the Laguna Concert Band's conductors - Ed Peterson. And you may not have noticed, but their piccolo player, Ms. Julie Harris, stood up AND played the obligato alone during the first pass thru the finale of the trio. Gene Pokorny, Charlie Warren and I then came forward and played the piccolo obligato the 2nd time thru while Julie and several other players from the flute section on piccolo stood up and played the tuba part 4 octaves above normal. Again, Ed Peterson's idea.

And here, for your further edification, is a little background on why this concert happened. When Gene Pokorny started his senior year at Downey High School, Ed Peterson got his first job as a music teacher/band director at DHS after his graduation from CSU Long Beach (my Alma Mater too!). The two of them have been friends for a VERY long time and have been trying to do a concert where they could feature Gene. Gene and I first met and have been very good friends since 1985. Gene asked me if I had the time to do the Bugler's Holiday arrangement for this concert and luckily enough I did have the time. And now, ALFRED Music Publishing is going to add TUBALER'S HOLIDAY to their rental catalog. And as soon as I have the details on who you need to contact about getting your hands on the arrangement (if you're interested) I will be making a new post.

I am not trying to be overbearing or flame anyone here. I just wanted to set the record straight for those who did not know the circumstances surrounding this concert and the various pieces performed there in.

Cheers,
Bob

[J.c. Sherman]

Not having perfect pitch, I wasn't sure if it was up a fourth or fifth, but that was a very, very good idea. I'm in no way bad-mouthing this recording I think it's fun.

Will there be/is ther an orchestra version you're working on? It might be nice for a Pops Concert.

J.c.S.

[Ken Herrick]

I REALLY enjoyed having a listen to Tubalers and other items. In my view, why not borrow from other instruments repertoir afterall, everybody else does. Of course if everything had to be left "original" we wouldn't have to worry about finding "Bydlo" on an audition list.

As for Stars & Stripes, I remember Bill Bell, Harvey Phillips, and Rex Conner doing it with the Army Band at Mid-West in the mid 60's and everybody loved it. ( Jake was there and said he would have LOVED to be playing.) We used to sit around the tuba hut at Interlochen in 63 practicing the pic part but never got to perform it so I know it has been around a while.

Be it somewhat comedic or dead serious there is no great sin in doing this sort of thing.

Bring on some more Bob, and congratulations on some good work which certainly has done nothing to harm the furthering of the image and popularity of the tuba - Harvey for one would be proud, I'm sure.

[Bandmaster]

Hey Bob...

Your arrangement of Tubaler's Holiday and the performance was VERY enjoyable! I also watched many of the related videos posted on Youube from that concert. I had a good chuckle when I noticed that you almost busted up Gene during the performance of Tubby the Tuba. Your voice portrayal of Mr. Frog, with a hint W.C. Fields in there, almost got him laughing. Nice job narrating on Lincoln Portrait as well. I guess it really comes in handy being a voice over actor and a tuba player, eh?

Sometimes its a small world... I met Bob when I too attended CSU Long Beach and I did some student teaching at Downey High School in 1977 with their long time director, Bruce Gifford, who had taught Karen and Richard Carpenter. Gene, I believe, went to their cross town rival Warren High School.

[k001k47]

neat!