Sunday, Dec. 7, marked the 52nd anniversary of Keene State’s annual “Tuba Christmas” event. This event, which started back in 1973, hosts a variety of tuba performers of all ages getting together for a collection of both well-known and slightly less-known Christmas tunes, all played on the tuba and euphonium.
The event was held in the Mabel Brown Room, and the crowd had reached standing room only due to the sheer support of the event, not to mention the around 60 tuba and euphonium players in this year’s ensemble.
The ensemble played a total of 18 songs, starting with songs such as “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “The First Noel” and “The Holly and the Ivy” before performing pieces like “Silent Night,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” and eventually wrapping up the performance with songs like “We Three Kings,” “Jingle Bells” and “Joy To The World” (or as they called it, “Joy ‘Tuba’ World”).
The performance was free admission, but there was merchandise for scarves, hats and tote bags as well as ornaments that you could purchase to hang on the tuba Christmas tree that sat near the stage of the Mabel Brown Room during the performance.
Dr. John Hart, an associate professor of music and the conductor of the ensemble, said he has had the pleasure of being in charge of setting up the event for the past seven years.
When asked about his favorite piece from the performance, Dr Hart said, “I’m a big fan of ‘The First Noel.’ I think it’s just something about the harmonies, and the way the phrases go up and down, then even higher. It hits me in the right way.”
The event saw a variety of audience members, ranging from people who were experiencing Tuba Christmas for the first time ever to those who have been regular attendees. Pamela Kolodziej, alumna ‘88, has been attending the event ever since she graduated.
“I think it’s very fun,” Pamela said. “I like it when they dress up their tubas, though they don’t keep it the same every year.”
When asked about her favorite piece in the performance, Pamela chose “The Holly and The Ivy.”
Elijah Hashem, a junior at Keene State and tuba player in the ensemble, said he believed the performance went very well. He described the process of setting up for the event as “a labor of blood and people.” When asked, he said his personal favorite tune was “Jingle Bells,” which came with a special musical motif in their rendition.
Hart said he views the event as a lovely way to reconnect with the people who come to see it. “It’s one of those holidays, one of those events that just brings people together,” Hart said. “There are people here that I don’t see for entire parts of the entire year, and I feel like we can just pick up our conversation where we left off from last year.”
Michael Ardita can be contacted at
mardita@kscequinox.com
