bloke's turn: stupid ailments-related-to-tuba-playing thread

[iiipopes]

Only on this, the 2nd Sunday of Advent, also known as John the Baptist Sunday, would these low "brown" tones have any effect on, or otherwise trigger, the peristaltic reflex, after over-indulging on those special Christmas treats: locusts and wild honey.

[PaulMaybery]

Me thinks were it not for certain homophonic rhythmic gestures that we would never realize what tune is actually being attempted by a large tuba ensemble. Can melodic features in that context actually be perceived? Or do we simply think we hear the tune.

I think it was like 1974 when I played what was one of the early (or one the first) TubaChristmas events at Rockefeller center in NYC. It was a "who's who." Paul LaValle (Band of America) was on the aluminum step ladder out on the ice rink conducting us, while we were all gathered under that statue of Prometheus and his "Christmas Tree".

Paul L. was fine at conducting in his grey uniform and band cap. Alec Wilder who wrote the tuba Christmas charts stood at the foot of the ladder with a cigar in his mouth and Harvey was close by waiting for his ascent on that creaky ladder to conduct Bach's "Come Sweet Death" (as Harvey told us all, Bill Bell's favorite tune.) It was scary to see Harvey on the ladder but it all came off with out incident.

The rehearsal prior to the event: (I thought New Yorkers would not really need a rehearsal) was in the basement of the RCA building. They were expecting about 50 "tubaists" or maybe back then it was "tubists." In any event 350 showed up and we could not fit into the room assigned for rehearsal. So Harvey led us into the hallway. We were stretched out the entire length of the basement hallway, and wound up playing in 'canon.' After those in the front rows stopped, the back rows continued for another couple of measures. But the powers to be we just fine with things. Gosh, we never even tuned.

Then it was up the stairs to the lobby and through a series of escalators and revolving doors to the assigned area on the skating rink. I got more dents on my tuba that day. (Incidentally that horn is for sale on TN as we speak.)

Friends were at sidewalk level, trying to get a glimpse of us out on the rink. We were all little dots with shiny horns and Christmas hats, scarves and sweaters beneath the giant Christmas tree. When I asked how we sounded... well ... a few chuckled. They could recognize the rhythm in tunes like "Adeste fiddles" or "Jingle Bells." But when it came to "Holly and the Ivy" they were lost for words.

I remember that day very well. And having grown up around NYC I realize that I maintain a certain level of cynicism, sarcasm and mockery. But all in east coast good faith. When it all boils down, it was a day I will never forget. It was indeed quite wonderful. In the more than 40 years since then, I have only gone to one other Tuba Christmas, and it paled in comparison. Something in the trinity of LaValle, Phillips and Wilder gave it a certain divine ordination.

I suppose it is not really about what it sounds like, but more about camaraderie and the knowledge that we as tubaists (or is it tubist) are a rather special breed. Merry Christmas Tubenetters.

I can say no more.

Paul (who always loves to tell stories) Maybery

[alfredr]

Thanks, Paul.

[Three Valves]

I suffered sharp anxiety at a TC event recently.

It was a supplemental arrangement.

Sharp key signatures??

It's Tuba Christmas damn you, not the Baltimore Symphony!!