THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511170916
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
As the holiday season approaches, it's time once again to think about things like sleighs and reindeers and tubas.
Tubas?
Well, yes.
All across North America, musicians are tuning up for the 22nd annual Tuba Christmas, which will be held at about 150 selected locations from coast to coast.
The ``oompah-pah'' holiday sound first came to Hampton Roads nine years ago, and this year's local version will be at 4 p.m. Dec. 17 at Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News.
Organizer Dru Stowe says the 45-minute concert will attract tuba and euphonium players (a euphonium is a tenor tuba) from throughout South Hampton Roads as well as the Peninsula.
``It'll draw tuba players from Richmond to Chesapeake,'' explains Stowe, a tuba player himself. ``It's the only one at this end of the state.''
Stowe anticipates an ensemble comprising at least 45 musicians. To participate, players need only show up at 3 p.m. and pay a $5 registration fee.
The repertoire is traditional, Stowe says, and comes from a book written just for these events: ``Carols For A Merry Tuba Christmas,'' arranged by Alec Wilder.
``It includes pretty much all of the standards,'' says Stowe, ``including `Joy To The World,' `Jingle Bells' and `Silent Night.' ''
``Silent Night'' performed by a 45-piece tuba ensemble?
``This is REAL heavy metal music,'' notes Stowe. ``We have developed a pretty loyal following of dedicated listeners. . . .
``We'll have loads of band students; that's what we particularly encourage. And we're pretty fortunate to have so many military bands. We've had tubists from as far away as California.''
Stowe mentions that Raymond Jones of Chesapeake, vice president of radio at WHRO, has been a ``regular'' at past Tuba Christmases, offering up the brief tribute to ``great tubists and tuba teachers, past and present, that is a part of the event. He might,'' Stowe adds, ``bring his sousaphone that lights up.''
Jones, however, says not to count on the light show.
``The sousaphone's in pretty bad shape,'' he explains. ``The cord is bad and the third valve is stuck. I'm thinking of taking it to Maaco (auto painting and body shop), since it's too big to take to a music shop. I'll probably bring my trusty York Baritone.
``I'm really glad it's indoors,'' Jones adds. ``One year, it was outdoors at the MacArthur Memorial and it was so cold the only thing colder than us was MacArthur. The excellent acoustics in the mall mingle with the aroma of Doritos and french fries to make it a fantastic happening.''
Robert Deal of Virginia Beach is organizing a tuba choir comprising students at Kempsville and Ocean Lakes high schools to perform at holiday band concerts put on by the two schools. He expects about 10 students to sign on with the choir and at least several of them will journey to Newport News to participate in Tuba Christmas.
``I am going to be encouraging them to go,'' says Deal, who plans to be there himself. He already has shown the students and their music teachers a video about the event.
Tuba Christmas originated with Harvey Phillips, a tuba professor at the University of Indiana. Phillips still owns the rights to the concept. Tuba Christmases are held in such places as New York City and Washington, D.C. Deal has traveled to Washington several times to play in the event there.
The idea, perhaps because of its seeming improbability, has caught on and Tuba Christmases have blossomed nationwide and in Canada. This year, says Stowe, there will be about 150 such events. Tidewater's is one of only two in Virginia; the other is in Roanoke. MEMO: For more information, call Dru Stowe at 886-9126.
by CNB