Bucks
Tuba Christmas Steve Frederick
Dear Friends,
Good morning. As I write this column, I am listening to 200 tubas and euphoniums play Christmas carols from a 2007 recording in New York City. It’s titled, “Tuba Christmas.” What a sound!
Thanks to my friend Stephen Frederick, the retired head of instrumental music at North Penn High School, I attended his version of Tuba Christmas several days ago at the Lansdale train station park. Steve and Charles Neidhardt were the co conductors who led 70 tuba, sousaphone, and euphonium players in a one-hour musical extravaganza, the likes of which, most have never heard before. It was the tenth anniversary of the Tuba Christmas in Lansdale and it was free.
I’ll bet that more than 300 stood or sat on fold-up chairs during the one-hour performance. It was so cold that the players wore gloves. “Our musicians came from 27 municipalities,” Steve began. “Some were from New Jersey.”
Steve told the crowd that three of the musicians would play the Tuba Christmas concert at Rockefeller center in New York City (December 13). Four days ago, more than 200 players entertained thousands of Yuletide visitors in Manhattan. Can you imagine that sound…200 tubas?
I’ve developed a theory about people resembling their dogs and instruments. I know several clarinet players who are thin and straight. One of my friends has bulldogs and he looks just like them. Several in the Tuba Christmas resembled their instruments too…not all, of course, but some. Steve’s background is in woodwinds. He resembles a good-looking, tall clarinet.
Dressed in seasonal red and white from head to toe, Steve told the crowd that 15 of the players participated in all 10 of the Tuba Christmas in Lansdale. He also pointed out that a few of the tubas were decorated in holiday style. One tuba had a miniature Christmas tree protruding from its bell. Another had candy cane wrappings.
To enthusiastic applause, Steve would occasionally have the players take a bow. Actually it was a tuba wave. The players would jiggle their instruments and wave them about. It was quite humorous.
The words to three Christmas songs were printed in a handsome program and the crowd sang heartedly…”Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”…as the 70 played with random abandon.
Steve invited the crowd to the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery County Concert Band on May 2 next year. He co-founded the band and is its Director. During his tenure at North Penn schools, Steve’s marching, concert, and jazz bands performed throughout the country. His bands appeared in John Travolta’s film “Blowout” and Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky V.” He concluded his career as Principal of North Penn High School in 2003.
In the early 1970’s, Steve and his wife Dorothy were choir directors at the First United Church of Christ in Quakertown. Mighty Betsy and I used to sing under his direction. I remember how he convinced Quakertown church choirs to combine their talents in a performance of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah.”
I thought that the undertaking would fail because “Elijah” is one of the most demanding compositions in the choral repertoire. But Steve had determination, leadership, and most of all, great musicianship. It was quite an event and set the stage for more joint church choir performances, which continue to this day.
Sharing the podium at the Tuba Christmas was Charles Neidhardt, also attired in red and white. Neidhardt is the Assistant Conductor of the Montgomery County Concert Band. He’s listed in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Neidhardt is a tuba player, no surprise. You can learn more about his impressive background if you do an Internet search…look for Charles Neidhardt.
In the Tuba Christmas program, there was a reference to Tuba Christmas International. This year, tuba concerts are taking place in more than 220 cities throughout the United States and several foreign countries.
The program gave more of the details. “Every Christmas season, tuba, sousaphone, euphonium, and baritone players of all ages gather to pay respects to all artists and teachers who represent this musical heritage,” it stated. “Every performance features traditional Carols as performed at the first Tuba Christmas in December 1974 on the Ice Rink Stage in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza. Tuba Christmas concerts also pay tribute to composers who have written solo and ensemble compositions for brass instruments.”
I searched the Internet for more information about the 36-year history of Tuba Christmas. Paul Lavalle conducted the first Tuba Christmas. Readers of my generation will remember Paul Lavalle. He was the conductor of the Band of America, which played more than 400 programs on NBC Radio during an eight-year span.
Lavalle formed the 100-member All-American High School Band, which entertained the nation in the late 1960’s. He won a scholarship to study law at Columbia University but decided to study music at the famous Julliard School instead. Lavalle had a remarkable career and conducted the most famous symphonies in America.
He wrote music for all genres…symphonies, jazz, and concert bands. One of his compositions was a march titled, “Big Joe, the Tuba.” I wonder whether that’s where he became enthralled with the idea of a Tuba Christmas?
Steve Frederick loves to see the smiling faces and the families in the audience. “We’ll have to close the streets if this event gets bigger,” he laughed. Steve told me that there was a 45-minute rehearsal at the nearby fire company just before the concert. I asked him whether there’s room for a trombone player (my instrument).
“No, Charlie,” he laughed, “But I’ll loan you a baritone. I even have a fingering chart for beginners.”
Finally, there’s a book of especially arranged Christmas carols for tuba and euphonium. Groups around the world can participate so there’s no excuse to participate.
Next year will pass by quickly and before you know it, the first Sunday in December 2010 will be upon us. Save the date…December 5. Better yet, bring your spouse, a few friends…and don’t forget your tuba.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith