I was incredibly worried about my ability to play this year, but my fears have been overcome and my breathing should be fine.
Now those of you who know me are aware that I have been performing in Tuba Christmas since 1984 and this is my 30th year. In a way it is an anniversary for the most successful relationship I have ever had, which is the one I have with music and my horn.
For those of you who do not know about Tuba Christmas here is a brief history of it posted from the official website http://www.tubachristmas.com/
2014 is the 41st anniversary for TUBACHRISTMAS concerts/events
which are presented throughout the world. TUBACHRISTMAS was conceived in 1974 by
Harvey Phillips as a tribute to his teacher and mentor William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day, 1902. Through the legendary William J.
Bell we reflect on our heritage and honor all great artists/teachers whose
legacy has given us high performance standards, well structured pedagogy,
professional integrity, personal values and a camaraderie envied by all other
instrumentalists. The first TUBACHRISTMAS was conducted by Paul Lavalle
in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974.
Traditional Christmas music performed at the first TUBACHRISTMAS was arranged by
American composer Alec Wilder who ironically died on Christmas Eve, 1980. Wilder composed many solo and ensemble compositions
for tuba and euphonium. He was a loyal supporter of every effort to
improve the literature and public image of our chosen instruments. Through Alec
Wilder we express our respect and gratitude to all composers who continue to
embrace our instruments with their compositions and contribute to the ever
growing solo and ensemble repertoire for tuba and
euphonium.
I have always felt connected to Tuba Christmas because it helps me remember part of who I am. Being a tuba player is a very important part of my identity, in fact I actually thought I was going to play the tuba as my profession. I have been truly fortunate to have had the greatest living tuba player as a teacher and friend. Gary Ofenloch is the Principal Tuba Player with the Utah Symphony and I studied with Gary while I attended the University of Utah. Gary will be very modest about the accolades I give him however, it was my job in the late 90s and early 2000s to listen to all of the classical recordings being made and I also attended a large amount of live performances during that period and afterward as well and Gary plays with both a majesty and a sophistication that I have yet to encounter anywhere I go. I am fortunate that Gary helped me procure my two concert horns and I feel entrusted with the legacy of those horns because of Gary as well. I am including a link to Gary's Utah Symphony Biography so that you can learn more about him. http://www.utahsymphony.org/the-orchestra/253-gary-ofenloch.
Back to the reason the Tuba is important to me. I identify with the horn in that both its appearance and sound have a substance unequaled in the world of musical instruments it is the foundation upon which the large orchestral pieces and band music builds upon in music since the Romantic period onward. It is an instrument that fits me and I love the sound it makes. I find that even though I do not play the horn professionally (mainly because of life choices and my rebellion against authority of all types including conductors) it grants me a peace and satisfaction that I am hard pressed to find anywhere else (in fact the only other associations I have that give me the same feelings are my Children and Family and my truly close friends).
I also love Tuba Christmas because it is the one thing I do that brings together all of my worlds. My kids are there and it is an important part of our Yule tradition and my diverse group of friends are there incorporating it into their traditions. That is what this is about Traditions and Legacies. Also that is why this blog exists to narrate those same traditions and legacies so that they will be remembered and our future generations will have a foundation to build upon much like the orchestra building on the foundation created by the tuba.
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| Tuba Christmas Salt Lake City 2010 |
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