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Tubachristmas facts for kids

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Tubachristmas2007
TubaChristmas 2007, at the ice rink in Rockefeller Center, New York City
2016 Bois d'Arc Christmas Celebration 2 (TubaChristmas)
TubaChristmas 2016 in Commerce, Texas

TubaChristmas is a special music concert held in many cities around the world. It celebrates people who play, teach, or write music for instruments in the tuba family. This includes the tuba, sousaphone, baritone, and euphonium. Sometimes, even rarer instruments like the helicon or serpent join in!

What is TubaChristmas?

TubaChristmas is a fun event where musicians gather to play Christmas carols together. All the instruments played are part of the tuba family. These instruments are known for their deep, rich sounds. The concerts are usually held outdoors in public places. They bring holiday cheer to everyone who listens.

The Tuba Family of Instruments

The tuba family includes several brass instruments. They all make sound by buzzing your lips into a mouthpiece.

  • Tuba: The largest and lowest-pitched instrument in the brass family.
  • Sousaphone: A type of tuba designed to be worn around the body. It is often seen in marching bands.
  • Baritone Horn: A smaller, higher-pitched instrument than the tuba. It has a mellow sound.
  • Euphonium: Similar to the baritone horn but with a wider, more conical shape. It has a rich, smooth tone.

Some other unique instruments might also join TubaChristmas. These include the helicon, ophicleide, and serpent.

How TubaChristmas Started

The very first TubaChristmas concert happened on December 22, 1974. It was held at the ice skating rink in Rockefeller Center in New York City.

  • Honoring a Teacher: The event was created by Harvey G. Phillips. He wanted to honor his tuba teacher, William Bell. William Bell was born on Christmas Day in 1902.
  • The First Concert: Over 300 musicians played at that first concert. Paul Lavalle was the conductor. This started a new holiday tradition.
  • Music Arrangements: The special arrangements of the Christmas carols were written by Alec Wilder. He was a composer who sadly passed away on Christmas Eve in 1980.

Getting Permission for the First Event

It was not easy to convince Rockefeller Center to let so many tubas play on their ice rink! Harvey Phillips had to show them how important this event would be. He shared the phone numbers of famous musicians who were his friends. These included Leopold Stokowski and Leonard Bernstein. After checking his references, Rockefeller Center gave him full permission.

How to Participate in TubaChristmas

TubaChristmas concerts can be different sizes. Some might have just a few players, like a quartet (two euphoniums and two tubas). Others can have hundreds of musicians!

  • Who Can Play: Anyone who plays an instrument from the tuba family can join. This means instruments with a "conical bore" (meaning the tube gets wider as it goes).
  • Joining In: There is a small fee to register and play in a TubaChristmas concert. This fee helps cover the costs of organizing the event.

Special Music at TubaChristmas

One popular song played at TubaChristmas is "Jingle Bells." The special version for TubaChristmas was arranged by Norlan Bewley. It includes a part from the "National Emblem" march by Edwin Eugene Bagley. Then, it goes back to the familiar "Jingle Bells" tune.

Organizing TubaChristmas Events

Many people work hard to organize TubaChristmas concerts. In New York City, one of the main coordinators is Michael Salzman. He was a student of Harvey Phillips at Indiana University. Today, Michael Salzman teaches tuba and euphonium at Hofstra University.

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