To the editor:

There were few changes in the line-up for the popular TubaChristmas concert this year. John Gardner played the piano accompaniment for the tuba solo performance of “O Holy Night” by this year’s Western Carolina student chosen for the honor, Alex Canup. Dr. Stan Howell declined to conduct “Jingle Bells” this year, though he was listed on the program and recognized in the audience.

When Manfred Walter took over from Dr. Howell as coordinator, I suggested strongly to him that Dr. Howell should continue to conduct “Jingle Bells.” When Manfred countered that Dr. Howell might not be able to do that, I suggested that he should always ask Dr. Howell and let him make the decision.

I had accused the irrepressible Dr. Howell of including the unrelated excerpt from the “National Emblem March” by E. E. Bagley in the middle of “Jingle Bells.” He denied responsibility, saying that it is included in the TubaChristmas version as arranged by one Norlan Bewley. Now you know.

In the usual fare of maybe ten well-known Christmas carols, first played through by the band, and then sung by the audience, we missed the separate leadership of the audience by the late Jean Howell. Maestro Jamie Hafner turned to us when our turn came, for the show must go on. I am accustomed to singing the bass line in the carols, but when they are pitched low for the tubas, I had to resort to singing an octave higher, as I did when a “Boy in the Amen Corner” with Papa Rippy, singing from the shape-note hymnals in the old Pacolet Baptist church.

There were very few changes in the show this year, as noted above, and the wonderful sound of only the lower-register brass was as satisfying as ever. We can all be happy that we still have one of the 250 or so TubaChristmases that play for millions in appreciative audiences around the country—indeed, the world.

Garland O. Goodwin   

Columbus, N.C.