Harvey Phillips, a Titan of the Tuba, Dies at 80

[Brownian Motion]

The tuba players mass by the hundreds every year on the Rockefeller Center ice-skating rink to play carols and other festive fare, a holiday ritual now ingrained in the consciousness of New York.

The tradition began in 1974, the brainchild of Harvey Phillips, a musician called the Heifetz of the tuba. In his time he was the instrument’s chief evangelist, the inspirer of a vast solo repertory, a mentor to generations of players and, more simply, Mr. Tuba.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/arts/music/24phillips.html?hpw

[Chuck Nessa]

G'bye Harvey.

I fondly remember going to the Pig 'n' Whistle (aka Piss 'n' Wiggle) in Bloomington to hear Bill Bell and his brass ensemble play for the drinkers. That's the first thing I thought of when reading the post (Harvey was one of his students). Thanks to all you tuba players for putting bottoms on so much music.

[jeffcrom]

Sorry to hear this. What a great musician - and Phillips probably did more than anyone to collect and catalog the vast number of compositions that Alec Wilder wrote and just gave away to friends.

[brownie]

I have the utmost respect for tuba players. Harvey Phillips was a master in that field.

Wish I had heard those alltuba gatherings when they played Christmas carols at Rockefeller Center. What a feast for the ears that must have been!