William Bell (December 25, 1902–1971)[1] was the premier player and teacher of the tuba in America during the first half of the 20th century. In 1921 He joined the band of John Philip Sousa, and from 1924 to 1937 he served as Principal Tuba with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 1937 General Electric's David Sarnoff invited conductor Arturo Toscanini to select personnel for The NBC Symphony Orchestra.[2] William Bell was the third musician selected by Toscanini, after his concertmaster Mischa Mischakoff and principal oboe Philip Ghignatti. In 1943 he became principal tubist for the New York Philharmonic.[3] Leopold Stokowski invited Bell to perform and narrate George Kleinsinger's "Tubby the Tuba", and to perform and sing a special arrangement of "When Yuba Plays The Rhumba on the Tuba". In 1955 Bell performed the American premiere of Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Concerto for Bass Tuba and Orchestra". He was professor of tuba at the Manhattan School of Music until 1961, and Indiana University from 1961 to 1971. Students included Harvey Phillips, Dennis Parker, Don Harry, and R. Winston Morris.
Beginning in 1974, under the auspices of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, thousands of tubists worldwide join together each December at local Tubachristmas events in honor of not only the season, but of the life and teaching of Bill Bell. Usually played at these events is an arrangement of the Bach chorale "Komm, süßer Tod" (Come Sweet Death), Bell's favorite chorale.
Every first Saturday in November, tuba and euphonium players gather in Perry, Iowa, the location of Mr. Bell's grave and the town where he died.[3] The musicians perform a free public concert of pieces arranged for four-part low brass in Mr. Bell's memory as a part of a fine arts series in Perry. Then the players gather at the gravesite and play "Come Sweet Death" and "Dona Nobis Pacem" in his memory.