December 13

Let’s Have a TubaChristmas! Merry Tuba and Happy Baritone!

For a Fun "Oompah" Style Holiday Outing to Savannah Mall!

It's the season for tubists and euphists! Mix it with an Oompah, Sweet Voice and family-style fun, if you please. Everyone in grades 5- 105 are welcome to play in the 1:30 PM concert at Savannah Mall on Saturday, December 20, 2008. You don't want to miss this rich sound!

SAVANNAH Georgia (December 15, 2008) - During the Christmas holiday each year, Tuba and euphonium players are invited to participate in one or more of the TUBACHRISTMAS concerts/events presented throughout the world. Savannah's Tuba Christmas is coordinate by Armstrong-Atlantic State University, with the TUBACHRISTMAS Concert at Savannah Mall on Saturday, December 20, 2008 (1:30 PM).

If you play the tuba or euphonium (baritone horn)... or just love the sound of the tubas-in-the-marching band, then you don't want to miss the bighorns event. For Saturday's grand holiday event, music is available to purchase in both bass and treble clef.

WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2008
REGISTRAION: 8:30-10:00 AM Armstrong-Atlantic State University Campus
REHEARSAL: 10:00-12:00 PM AASU CAMPUS
CONCERT TIME: 1:30 PM: SAVANNAH MALL
CONDUCTOR: Scott Bozeman, AASU

See tubachristmas.com for more details or email the Savannah Tuba Christmas Coordinator Kateri Miller, SCDS at for more info or call 912-961-8743.
In Georgia, the Savannah TUBACHRISMAS is the last event of the year. Other events were in Atlanta, Columbus, Blue Ridge and Athens.


WHAT'S THE SOUND?
Until heard, the rich sound of the Tuba and Euphonium (Baritone Horn) ensemble can barely be imagined. All-tuba ensembles, along with the combination of Tuba and Euphonia/Baritone horn ensembles, have become increasingly popular as the musical taste of the public has developed and matured. Music in played in four parts, the higher two parts being played on euphoniums and the lower two parts on tubas.

Check out the sounds of the Tuba and Euphonium music from The Modern Jazz Tuba Project, which can be heard through a search iTunes.com or Amazon.com. Or, do a search for Heavy Tuba Meltdown on YouTube.com if you don't know the richness of the sound to expect.

THE TUBA
The tuba, producing a sound of unparalleled power, grandeur and nobility, is so pleasing that mediocre scores have been raised to near greatness by the abundant use of tubas in the instrumentation. Best associated with the big, loud instruments that go 'oompah' in the back of parades, an orchestra typically has a single tuba, and perhaps two.

The tuba is the lowest-pitched member of the family of brass wind instruments, but the XXL-sized tuba (Latin for "trumpet") is not an ancient invention. Its design was first patented in 1835 in Germany and after gaining initial favor in British brass bands later that century, the tuba eventually crossed the Atlantic Ocean where the instrument ended up serving a key role in the early jazz bands of New Orleans.

Along the way, tubas won a fan-base of people and players who loved the lowdown instrument. Indeed, every year since 1979 the first Friday in May has been celebrated in an increasing number of American states and foreign countries as International Tuba Day.

THE EUPHONIUM
The euphonium (commonly called a small tuba or referred to as a baritone horn) whose name is derived from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "beautiful-sounding" or "sweet-voiced." If you don't know the instrument, it's the sound you're quickly recognize coming from marching bands, including the United State Navy Band, with Master Chief Behrend its principal euphonium instrumentalist and featured soloist.