(Artwork by Stephen Ferris)
A sure sign Christmas is upon us is the annual event of Tuba Christmas. Two-hundred or so tuba players will gather in Pioneer Square this Saturday to serenade onlookers with a dozen or so holiday favorites. If you’ve ever wanted to sing Christmas carols to the low-hum of alien spaceships, this is your chance. Tuba Christmas is a national event, so even if you’re not from Portland, check your local listings to see if there is a concert in your hometown. All the concerts are free, of course, and it’s worth the outing. Especially if you live in a larger city like Chicago or New York. I think Boston has a great one, too.
I’ve actually performed in a Tuba Christmas in Houston. I played Tuba in the high-school band, and so I am not only a fan of Tuba Christmas, but a veteran. I think I used to have a hat or something.
My friend Laura Jean used to get her Tuba out every year here in Portland, and she used to bug me to find a Tuba and come and play with the gang. But I never did. And now she lives in New York. I live in a condo, anyway, so it just wouldn’t work to do all the practicing. I’d scare the neighbors dog, who is both blind and deaf, but no doubt would freak at the foreign vibrations. But in a way, every year, I am envious of all those Tuba Players. Tuba Christmas is the single event where tuba players are actually cool. Just one more thing Jesus redeemed with the incarnation. No small task. Merry Christmas, indeed.
Here’s a sample of Tuba Christmas in New York. Happy Holidays, everybody.
(In Portland, Tuba Christmas will take place this Saturday, in Pioneer Square, from 1:30 P.M. till 3:00 P.M. You will want to get there a bit early, as rain or shine, the place packs out.)
*Stephen Ferris’ artwork, “Tuba Christmas” is significant because it is a painting of the Portland site. The tent, under which the tubas are organized, is a staple. And the man in the hat is Dr. John Richards, who played in the Oregon Symphony for many years. He actually wears that hat each year because he also drives a submarine.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Cool tradition.
will definitely be there. thanks for the heads up. will YOU be there?
Didn’t Luke write a verse about that…
I played tuba for Him, pah oom pah pah bloooorn…
I played loudest for Him, pah oom pah pah bloooorn, oom pah pah bloooorn, oom pah pah bloooorn…
Then He plugged His ears, pah oom pah pah bloooorn…
Me and my horn.
Hahaha. This is so ridiculous.
Tuba Christmas is AWESOME, I agree.
Likely contrapuntal and cool simultaneously!
That just made my inner band-geek smile from ear to ear.
I don’t think Clarinet Christmas would go over quite so well…
I always KNEW you and I were kindred spirits. I TOO am a Tuba Christmas fan/ veteran. I played in high school (1st in State thank you very much) and was invited to play in the Tuba Christmas at Arizona State… 10 years ago.
— wow…I feel cooler just saying I’m a Tuba Christmas veteran
All right. Fine. We’ll be there.
But only to see the submarine.
Hey Don,
Not related to the post, but I wanted to let you know something. I teach communications at Arkansas Tech University. Last year I caught a podcast of your “Story” sermon at Mars Hill. Simply Amazing. Long story short is that I incorporated chunks of it into my last lecture I give students and it has made a profound impact. I now get e-mails from them later on telling me about the ways they’re “trying to write better stories”.
I just wanted to tell you thanks for this. I’m really looking forward to the book.
Hi,
This is a question for any other artists who view this site and comment on this blog and Don Miller as well…sorry it is unrelated to the tuba post but I didn’t know where else to post it.
I am in grad school right now, in my thesis year. I have been having problems talking about Christian spirituality as it relates to my work ( I just got slaughtered in my last committee meeting and it sucked) and I was wondering if you knew of any artists or artist communities that are dealing with this same topic that I can reference? Thanks and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas ! Best, Stephanie
P.S. I attached my website, just click on my name, so you can get an idea of the kind of work I do.
Well, I did just check my local listings and in my neck of the woods Tuba Christmas is happening on the plaza between an aquarium and a fish market. The fish are gonna love that! They’ll think they are being attacked by humped back whales, I’m sure. I can’t go to see for myself though. But I noticed the organizer’s last name is Lubbers and I don’t know why but the thought of putting it together to make Tuba Lubbers cracks me up. I bet he has a bumper sticker that says Tuba is for Lubbers or something.
And, not only is LJ in NY now, she’s always busy writing her novel…according to Dave’s blog posts. I’m sure her tuba neglect will pay off with a best seller someday.
Interesting tradition. Traditions are an amazing thing. We can get so emotionally wrapped up in something that from our perspective seems so obvious but from the outside looking in, it looks a bit…well interesting. I’m sure we all have a few family traditions that we love. Anyone willing to share.
My whole family goes to my Grandpas house on friday nights. As a high schooler on the hockey team, I was invited to all sorts of parties but I never went because we all went to my grandma and grandpas to play cards and hang out. I got ridiculed for that in high school but I didn’t care. We still go pretty regularly and my kids now hang out w/ great grandpa Chas and love it.
Did I hear a short version of the USC fight song in there? haha.. very nice
Tubas sound really funny, especially in large groups. They should do “Tuba High School Musical”.
I cannot even tell you how awesome this is!
Merry Christmas!
My dad has been playing in Tuba Christmas for years. Each year, it is the same. We all cram into a huge area in the mall and sing Christmas carols with strangers accompanied by tubas. My husband swears the sound has the power to release bowels and, therefor, calls it the brown noise (thanks to an episode of SouthPark). It is a quirky event, to be sure. Yet, at some point as we are singing (everybody sings) loudly and proudly I realize every time that we are gathered in a public place singing profound lyrics about Jesus. I mean, this year I was thinking, “did we really all just say – the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight”? We did. In a mall. With tubas.
I think you are right, Don. Something is up with Jesus and Tubas and redemption.
I just checked and I have managed to miss all the Tuba Christmas events in Minnesota this year! Argh!
There used to be an event at The University of Northern Iowa every fall that involved tubas. They called it Octuba Fest. I don’t know if they still have it, but I’m going to check it out next fall!