Rochester, MN TubaChristmas -- Sat 12/14

[bort2.0]

Several of us will be attending the TubaChristmas in Rochester, MN tomorrow (Saturday, 12/14).

Here's the attendance list so far... Who else?

@bort2.0
@Big Francis
@ronr
@JRaymo

@MN_TimTuba -- sorry you can't make it, we'll miss you.

[arpthark]

Whatcha playing on?

I'm having to miss all the local TCs this year due to family schedule conflicts, unfortunately, but had been planning to bring my Carl Fischer "Reliable" Eb helicon.

[Grumpikins]

Whatcha playing on?

I'm having to miss all the local TCs this year due to family schedule conflicts, unfortunately, but had been planning to bring my Carl Fischer "Reliable" Eb helicon.

Same here. Terrible weather and some other unique events nixed all of my options. TC next year.

[bort2.0]

Whatcha playing on?

I'm having to miss all the local TCs this year due to family schedule conflicts, unfortunately, but had been planning to bring my Carl Fischer "Reliable" Eb helicon.

Martin Medium Eb, aka "the only tuba I own"

Thankfully, it's a gem.

[Big Francis]

Alright. Time to brave these roads. I’ll see y’all in a couple hours.

Frank

[MN_TimTuba]

Oh, man! I'm sorry to miss out on this crew!
You all have a great time, and I trust that the roads will be kind to you on your drive home.
Merry Christmas!
Tim

[Big Francis]

@Big Francis @ronr @bort2.0 @JRaymo

[JRaymo]

Was so great to meet all you guys in person. I don’t have much of any connection to Minnesota other than my job. Nice to connect with people even if it’s once a year.

[ronr]

Hope everyone was safe getting home!

[bort2.0]

That was fun! Best time I've had at a TubaChristmas in years.

Frank and Ron -- great to see you both again.
Jim -- great to finally meet you in person after chatting for how-many years.

Our drive home was fine, but we drove past a few bad accidents. The worst part for me was that I slipped fell on our icy front steps when I got home. Whoops!

Resolutions for next year:
See people in person more often
Get a bigger tuba, and play a lot more

[humBell]

Thanks for the thread!

Any tribute to this, there?

https://m.soundcloud.com/lauraj953/chri ... -town-1970

I am looking forward to a second tuba christmas tomorrow.

[bort2.0]

No, but that would have been awesome!

Perhaps much better than the too-difficult, too-high, key of G version of Mele Kalikimaka. It's a nice arrangement. But not for 70 players.

[humBell]

70, eh?

Glad to hear the tuba community there is so healthy!

I think Boston clocked in at a mere 88ish? ("Great Scott!")

Anyway, if ya feel like meddling, suggest that to the organizers for next year?

I missed Keene this year, but they like to highlight their connection to Bagley when the Jingle Bells arrangement comes around.

[ronr]

That was fun! Best time I've had at a TubaChristmas in years.

Frank and Ron -- great to see you both again.
Jim -- great to finally meet you in person after chatting for how-many years.

Our drive home was fine, but we drove past a few bad accidents. The worst part for me was that I slipped fell on our icy front steps when I got home. Whoops!

Resolutions for next year:
See people in person more often
Get a bigger tuba, and play a lot more

Hope the tuba was unhurt…oh, and you too.

[ronr]

No, but that would have been awesome!

Perhaps much better than the too-difficult, too-high, key of G version of Mele Kalikimaka. It's a nice arrangement. But not for 70 players.

Yeah, that was a little challenging. Good to try new things, but maybe set the bar a little lower.

[JRaymo]

That was fun! Best time I've had at a TubaChristmas in years.

Frank and Ron -- great to see you both again.
Jim -- great to finally meet you in person after chatting for how-many years.

Our drive home was fine, but we drove past a few bad accidents. The worst part for me was that I slipped fell on our icy front steps when I got home. Whoops!

Resolutions for next year:
See people in person more often
Get a bigger tuba, and play a lot more

Same here except getting a bigger tuba. I’d love one but won’t happen. I’ll just be happy to spend more time playing and seeing people.

[MN_TimTuba]

So, I missed all the fun in Rochester, but Sunday my 30+ year tuba partner, Paul Peterson, and I played our umpteenth Christmas concert in Detroit Lakes, MN. Took the opportunity to grab this glamour shot of our nearly matching Kings!
I'd appreciate it if one of you would 1. Buy a King tuba and 2. Move up north. Then next Christmas we can play We Three Kings the way it was meant to be played!

2 Kings Christmas 2024 XX.jpg (196.63 KiB) Viewed 878 times

Tim

[bort2.0]

@MN_TimTuba

I'll do what I can.

[bort2.0]

Side note -- those are two VERY nice looking tubas.

20+ years ago, I went to a very small TubaChristmas event, must've been about 12 people (I think it was their first year). The playing was pretty average overall, but I distinctly remember there was one person there absolutely smoking the low parts on a brand new shiny tuba. I was in (or just out of) college and didn't know what was what, so I asked them what it was. "It's a new King 2341."

I don't think I've seen another one in person since then!