Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’d love to go to a free Christmas concert, but I just wish I could find one with more low brass”? Well look no further. Tuba Christmas is here!
“What is Tuba Christmas?” you may ask. It’s an extremely loosely organized tradition of groups of tuba (and baritone) players gathering all over the country around Christmas time and playing Christmas carols. No trumpets, woodwinds, or strings allowed. The players usually practice together once, for about an hour, right before the concert. And the skill level goes from junior high band students on up to professional orchestra musicians, and everything in between. And yes, it is every bit as comical and entertaining as it sounds. Usually there’s someone dressed as Santa, and people decorate their horns. Here’s a little sample:
(I have no idea why Jingle Bells turns in to the National Emblem March in the middle there, but it always does, and I laugh every time.)
The Tuba Christmas in the Twin Cities is in St Paul at Central Presbyterian Church this Sunday, December 14th at 4:00pm, and yes, I will be playing there. Free Parking. Maps to church and parking: www.cpcstpaul.org/directions.html. It free to attend (though they pass around a hat, usually literally, for donations), and it’s kid friendly.
If you’re not in the Twin Cities, there are Tuba Christmases all over the place. There’s a big list of all of them here. Basically, wherever there are tuba players with strange senses of humor (read: where ever there are tuba players), there’s Tuba Christmas.
If you want to play, bring a horn, registration is at 2:00pm, practice at 2:30pm. It’s $5 to play, and if you haven’t played at one before, bring $15 for a music book (you can reuse it every year).
Merry Tuba Christmas!
[...] Tuba Christmas? Why would I want to go? Can I play there? How can I get more details? See my previous post on the subject from two years ago – all the details are the same except that it’s on the 12th this year rather than the [...]