Jackson Bell
Four-year-old Theo Leier likes the powerful sound that comes out of a
tuba.
So when his mother told him that an orchestra of only tubas was
playing Sunday night at the Alex Theatre, Theo knew he had to be
there.
"They're fun and good," the shy Theo whispered to his mother,
Julianna Leier, who relayed his answer. "I like the big noise they
make, and I like to sing along with the Christmas songs."
Theo and his mom were among an estimated 1,500 people who turned
out to sing holiday carols alongside the booming brasses during the
fourth annual Merry Tuba Christmas.
About 250 tuba players -- ranging in ages from 8 to 80, from
amateurs who play in school bands to seasoned professionals --
performed during the hourlong concert, playing Christmas and Hanukkah
classics.
"It's very unique to have tubas playing Christmas carols," said
Jim Self, the concert's conductor. Self is an entertainment industry
veteran who played the famed horned solo that was used as the voice
of the UFO in filmmaker Steven Spielberg's 1977 masterpiece, "Close
Encounters of the Third Kind."
Merry Tuba Christmas also featured a performance from the quartet,
the Tubadours, and an appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus after the
show to greet audience members.
"It's a festive event," Self said. "And people come out because it
is Christmas time, and everyone likes to celebrate the Christmas
festivities."
Glendale's Merry Tuba Christmas was in conjunction with concerts
in more than 130 cities across the nation, including a Tuba Christmas
at the White and one at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The
event is a 29-year tradition supported by the Tuba Christmas
Foundation.
Ronna Perel trekked through the rain from Culver City to support
her friend, who played a euphonium in the orchestra. But, more
importantly, she said the uniqueness of the concert piqued her
interest.
"I enjoy Christmas carols, and the idea of hearing them played
with all these tubas was just too intriguing to pass up," Perel said.
