ROCHESTER, MN-- I stepped out my front door Sunday evening and was immediately confronted by Christmas music I was not only able to hear but also feel. The Low Priorities Brass Quartet includes a booming tuba that fairly rumbles through the heart of a listener. The group had positioned itself in front of a home in my neighborhood featured on a holiday tour of lights. There, they found a constant audience coming by on a comparatively mild Minnesota, December night to hear their music. John Sievers had been chomping at the bit to play music for a live audience.
"It's hard to find opportunities to make music right now with COVID," the musician told me between numbers. "And we just wanted to find a way to have fun with Christmas music and this lights tour was a perfect thing to do for it."
As cars drove by, stopped and passengers put the windows down, there were moments of applause and joyful voices. I spoke with neighbors I hadn't seen since last winter when we are shoveling snow together. It was a moment of neighborhood bonding. The musicians too were filled with holiday joy.
"It's just super enjoyable to make music again," said Anthony Boldt as he took a break from blowing on his booming tuba. "It's been a long time. I'm a band director in Kasson-Mantorville and so it was fun to get together with a group of tubas and trombones and make a little bit of music tonight."
The musicians and my neighbors were hopeful Rochester Mayor Kim Norton would be paying a visit before the band wrapped up their holiday concert.
