Video: Merry Tuba Christmas in Morristown, and ‘Messiah’ in Madison

You don’t see this every day…dozens of dozens of tubists and euphonium players blowin’ in the wind on the Morristown Green.

One of the highlights of this holiday season was the town’s first Merry Tuba Christmas. Doug Rutan, band director at Morristown High School, and guest conductor Matt Paterno from Wayne Hills High School, did a marvelous job of whipping this diverse assemblage into shape for some caroling fun on Saturday.

The Merry Tuba Christmas tradition began 39 years ago, and we hope it takes root in Morristown.

Please click icon below for captions.

It also reminded us how rich our cultural choices are in Greater Morristown. That same day we went from tubas in the afternoon on the historic Green, to an evening performance of Messiah by the Masterwork Chorus at the beautiful Dorothy Young Center for the Arts at Drew University in Madison.

This was the 249th performance of Messiah in the history of the Masterwork Chorus, and it’s hard to imagine a more powerful Hallelujah Chorus.

A trumpet is featured prominently in another section of Messiah.  We couldn’t help but wonder what Handel might have done if the tuba had been invented in his day… and what the Merry Tuba Christmas ensemble might do with the Hallelujah Chorus.

We will have to wait another year for the next tuba spectacular. But you can catch the Masterwork Chorus on Jan. 26, 2013, in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem conducted by Andrew Megill at Drew University.

The Masterwork Chorus performs ‘Messiah.’ Please click icon below for captions.