We unfortunately begin this thread with some sadness at the recent passing of Dr. Harvey Phillips this past October. Tubist, teacher, mentor, pedegogian, but mostly a champion for the tuba and euphonium.
These instruments are frequently the butt of jokes. Ridiculed and scorned by those who have little knowledge of what these instruments are capable of, Dr. Phillips made it his lifetime quest to educate not just budding students but the public at large.
Harvey played the hell out of the tuba. But he wasn't restricted to the kind of archaic literature that is most often thought of when folks think of the tuba - oom-pah and laying down rhythmic lines. He was a principal in the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort, a kickass group of 3 euphoniums and 3 tubas, with rhythm section. This group performed chiefly in the Seventies and into the Eighties and there are a few recordings still out there.
Dr. Phillips taught tuba and euphonium at Indiana University. For those who know a couple things about music education, you know that this school is rivaled only by Juilliard, the Eastman School of Music, and perhaps the Peabody Conservatory, not to mention the Berklee College of Music and the University of North Texas. IU was and is one of the best schools in the country and competition to get into the school is keen.
Shameless plug here - at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, tomorrow, December 18, one of Dr. Phillips' brainchildren rises and gives an opportunity for all who play these instruments to take part in a rehearsal and performance of Christmas music written especially for tuba/euphonium choir.
This brainchild of Dr. Phillips, commonly called "TubaChristmas" has been an annual event at various venues across the country for the past 30-something years. I was privileged to participate in one of these in Chicago, with Dr. Phillips in attendance, in 1998. The event was conducted by Dr. Frederick Fennell, another music giant in the band world.
I will be at Ft. Leonard Wood tomorrow, along with an unknown number of other musicians, at the PX at noontime.
I hope to see you there should you be in the area.
In the meantime, here is a CBS Sunday Morning presentation of Dr. Phillips back in, oh, maybe the early Eighties.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XvWX70HeW0&NR=1[/youtube]
And here is a short tribute to Harvey Phillips, produced by the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qh7J2FMyPQ&feature=related[/youtube]
RIP, Harvey. You are loved and respected, even after death. Your legacy lives on.
