Question about TubaChristmas

[OldHorn]

Well, here's my thoughts on playing an alto horn in TubaChristmas.

Leave the peck horn at home. Beg, borrow, or buy her a real tenor or bass horn: A baritone, euph, tuba, serpent or what have you, and give her a fingering chart, the TC book, some help & and lots of encouragement! There are plenty around, and penciling in a few (or a lot) of fingerings in the book is OK.

2 big reasons:

1st: She will get experience in playing a different kind of instrument. No harm in that.
2nd, it will be a character building exercise in that she won't be encouraged to "bend the rules" and sneak in without a low brass instrument. There is far too much of that going on in all walks of life, and too many people have the attitude that "I am special, so I need to go the easy way".

OK. I'm insensitive and I know I will be labeled a "*&^%$#" but that is ok. If she were close by, I'd be glad to loan her a horn myself.

Good Luck!!!
Merry TubaChristmas!

[euphoniumpsycho]

I was at one TubaChristmas that had a trombone and a barisax. I assume it was allowed in the spirit of Christmas and it did not take anything away from the concert.

Call the venue and ask. My apologies to the purists, but my opinion is if it's all you've got, go for it.

[imperialbari]

As for TubaChristmas purists: I have heard a recording of a large TC event, where a high profile purist made the entire assembly of low conical brasses next to inaudible by himself singing over the PA.

As for the music to play. Playing the part for Eb tuba will take it up an octave. If it were the bass line that would be a strict no-no from just about any point of view. If it were the tenor line it would be possible for an experienced player to make it sound like a nice descant to the melody in the tenor instruments. It takes good sense of balance and intonation to make that work. And the musical overview to never let any cadence end in an open fifth above the melody note (it should be moved down a third).

The sure way is to get the book for the melody line and transpose it, so that the alto horn plays the melody in unison (not in the octave) with the baritones and euphoniums.

Klaus

[Sandlapper]

One of the really neat things that I have enjoyed about the Tuba Christmas I have had an opportunity to participate is the vast range in age and experience of the participants from those who may have only played a year or two to the old guys like myself who are doing good to just pick up the horn and move air through it. I distinctly remember a middle school band director coming in with 6 or 7 middle school students or more and though that was wonderful. Having those types of playing experiences are the ones that invite a life time of enjoyment. Here's hoping she is so excited by it that she starts bugging you about doing it again in September of next year.... and that she doesn't experience any tuba Grinch!

Best of luck. Merry Tuba Christmas to her.

[Lew]

I have to agree with those who suggest that bringing a non-tuba instrument to tubachristmas is inconsistent with the intent of the event. Harvey made this point when I he talked about it at one of the NYC tubachristmases I went to many years ago. The point is to showcase instruments that rarely get the spotlight. Even a few non-tuba instruments can take away from that purpose. On the other hand, this is probably close enough that it should be OK, especially in a venue like the one in Richmond. I see Mark Poland isn't conducting any more, but I don't think he would have had an issue with it. I think you are smart to call the organizers ahead of time though just to check. Elizabeth Gunn, one of the organizers isn't a tuba or euphonium player either, unless she has picked it up since I left Richmond.