Sixty or more "tubadores" will play at this year's annual TubaChristmas concert on Saturday, making it the largest gathering of tubists this city has seen, says event organizer Gene Dowling.
The open-air concert at Market Square raises money for the Christmas Fund to help brighten Christmas for Victoria's needy, and has become a steadfast tradition in the city's Christmas season.
Tubas generally are thought of more as go-it-alone instruments, with only one or two featured in an orchestra. How does Dowling, who will conduct the ensemble, plan to get 60 individualists to play in accord?
"I have little secrets for keeping them together," said Dowling, a tuba and euphonium professor at the University of Victoria. "The trick is to be very concise in one's movements."
The first TubaChristmas was held in the space between the two Eaton's buildings where the Bay Centre currently stands.
It eventually migrated to Market Square, where Dowling says the best spot in the house is on the balcony. Last year's concert raised just over $1,600.
The deep tones of tubas can be heard blocks away, says Dowling.
Invented only 150 years ago, the tuba has no historic biblical connection.
But Dowling said he likes to think that had they been around 2,000 years ago, they would have appeared by the manger of the baby Jesus, "playing softly."
Dowling said one of the concert's awe-inspiring moments occurs during the performance of O Little Town of Bethlehem.
"One of the verses starts 'How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given,' and I always make them shush there, so it's done in the style and thinking of the words," Dowley said.
"If you think about them when you play them, that can move people in a way that they don't even realize."
Check out Chicago's TubaChristmas Carol of the Bells on the website YouTube for an illustration of just how nimble these brass giants can be.
TubaChristmas will be held Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Market Square at 560 Johnson St. Donations are collected at the event in -- what else?-- a tuba.
HOW TO DONATE
- Mail a cheque to the sa国际传媒 Christmas Fund, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, sa国际传媒
V8T 4M2.
- Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438.
- Donate online through www.queenalexandra.org.
- Leave a donation at the Tuba-Christmas event.
- The Christmas Bureau can be reached at 250-388-5704.
