Long time, no blog!

So, anyway, I am a published arranger now! My arrangement of Christmas tunes for tuba quartet is now being published by Cimarron Press. Yay!

One thing about it that is stuck in my craw...

It started out with the name Tuba Christmas Medley, which was my working title for it. A few weeks after the release, my publisher gets a letter from the Harvey Phillips Foundation, the folks that run the TubaChristmas events. I'm not a big fan of these, mostly because there are too many non-tuba players who show up at these things carrying a tuba that they have never played before. Add in the HS kids who only know how to blat. OK, so it's not my thing, but it's cool that the tuba gets some exposure. It's not like I HAVE to do them. I'm usually lucky enough to be WORKING the days that the local ones are held. I sure as heck ain't gonna turn down work for a freebie.

So, Harvey, or somebody in his inner circle, gets lawyered up, and sends Cimarron a letter alleging Trademark infringement, because we dared to use the word tuba in front of the word Christmas. Cimarron and I contend no infringement, since Harvey owns the trademark on TUBACHRISTMAS (That's just how it's listed on the register of trademarks, BTW.), said trademark to be used for "entertainment, namely organizing festivals featuring musical performances." (A direct quote from the tm registration.)

So, how does the title of a musical selection infringe or deny Harvey's events? So, anyway, because it would be more money than it's worth to fight them on this, the title of the piece is now "Christmas Medley for Tubas."

Speaking of money...

I once played at a Goldman Band concert with a tuba ensemble, in honor of Harvey Phillips. After the performance, I went up to Harvey and thanked him for everything he had done to promote the tuba. (I'm getting to the money part, patience...)

I take it back, no more thanks for Harvey, because, with this petty little incident, it all becomes clear to me now. Harvey is only interested in promoting Harvey, and any notice for the tuba is merely secondary.