“Is that a Tuba?”

This is a question that I heard often this weekend, as I carried a friends contra through the streets of New York City, on my way with a group of Tuba and Euphonium players to the 50th annual TubaChristmas.

TubaChristmas is an event celebrated every year since 1974, dedicated to the late William Bell, a prolific Tuba player and teacher. Starting in New York City, over 300 Tuba and Euphonium players were present on the ice of the Rockefeller Center at the first TubaChristmas. Now over 200 cities from Mobile, Alaska to Wildwood, Florida have their own TubaChristmas events.

Each event uses the same TubaChristmas “Carols for a Merry TubaChristmas” book, with 50 pages worth of four voiced Christmas carols written by Alec Wilder. Although the books are written for a Tuba/Euphonium choir, any mid to low instrument with conical bore in the Tuba family are welcome to join.

This year showed many tenor and baritone horns, marching instruments such as Sousas, contras and marching baritones, as well as a few strange creatures like Agnes the double belled sousaphone, a two valve G bugle, and a 1898 parlor horn (which I have been able to find no pictures of anywhere.) People love to deck out their horns and themselves in Christmas regalia, and I spotted not one but two Santa Claus’s playing in the crowd.

TubaChristmas is a wonderful event, and the sounds produced by a low brass choir are lovely. I highly recommend anyone go to one near you, playing or spectating. 300+ brass in one space is a sight and sound to behold.