By Jeff Sovelove
Tubas and euphoniums of every size and description filled the Morristown Green for the 10th annual Merry Tuba Christmas concert on Saturday.
Ninety players ranged in age from 10 to 78, and ran the gamut from amateurs to professional musicians and music educators.
It was one of more than 200 Merry Tuba Christmas events scheduled around the world during this holiday season. Morristown Coordinator Matthew Paterno explained that the tradition was conceived by Harvey Phillips, as a tribute to his teacher and mentor, the late William J. Bell. (Bell’s birthday was Christmas Day, 1902.)
Video playlist by Jeff Sovelove. Click upper right icon to toggle through clips:
Paul LaValle conducted the first Merry Tuba Christmas, on New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza ice rink on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1974. The tubular joy has been spreading ever since.
Saturday’s hour-long program included holiday favorites such as Carol of the Bells, Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Paterno was joined by guest conductors John Palatucci and David Gallagher of the Morristown Colonials Marching Band.
Happy Holidays!
Sorry, thought I was replying to the Atlantic Health announcement.
I appreciate the fact that AHS execs are not disrupting existing neighborhoods and are preserving the historic homes on the site. Far better than what was originally approved.