The autobiography of βpossibly the greatest tuba player of all timeβ (New York Times), the man who βput class in the low brass.β (Clark Terry,Β jazz trumpeter)
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With warmth and humor, tuba virtuoso Harvey Phillips tells the story of his amazing life and careerβfrom his Missouri childhood through his days as a performer with the King Brothers and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circuses, his training at the Juilliard School, a stint with the U.S. Army Field Band, and his freelance days with the New York City Opera and Ballet. A founder of the New York Brass Quintet, Phillips served as vice president of the New England Conservatory of Music and became Distinguished Professor of Music at Indiana University. The creator of an industry of TubaChristmases, Octubafests, and TubaSantas, he crusaded for recognition of the tuba as a serious musical instrument, commissioning more than 200 works. Enhanced by an extensive gallery of photographs, Mr. Tuba conveys Phillipsβs playful zest for life while documenting his important musical legacy.
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βMr. Tuba is not only a memoir, but it is a history of the twentieth century American music world and a resource for all music teachers and music lovers.β βNBA Journal
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βA lively and informative read.β βHerald-Times
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β[Phillipsβs] autobiography is a fitting end to his lifeβs works, underlined with the same sense of inspiration and integrity that informed all of his musical activities.β βBloom Magazine