In movies and television shows, a violinist, pianist or flutist plays concerts for adoring audiences, all enchanted by the musician’s talent.
An instrument often overlooked by both Hollywood and music appreciators is the tuba. The Ohio University School of Music’s Octubafest seeks to change that notion.
Octubafest is a series of six concerts and recitals throughout October and early November that highlights the often overlooked low brass section.
Jason Snoddy, a junior studying music performance and music education, said Octubafest started as a way to make the tuba a more well-known instrument.
“Throughout the 20th century there was a prominent tuba player named Harvey Phillips,” Snoddy said. “One of his career goals…was to make the tuba known to the public. What he did for Octubafest was in 1973 he gathered all of his tuba students at his home. They had a cook out and played a bunch of tuba music.
The next year in 1974 he took the event to Indiana University’s School of Music and made a series of concerts put on by tuba players.”
Snoddy said the main idea behind Octubafest was to get tuba music out in front of an audience.
“The idea was for all of his students to get to play in any way, and for the audience members to listen and learn more of what the tuba can really do besides oom pah,” he said. “Quickly the event spread around the nation, and soon world.”
Zach Poller, a junior studying music performance and music education, said he hopes his recital will do justice to the music.
“I would like to play pieces in a way that will pay homage to the way that composers wanted them to sound,” Poller said.
Snoddy said he hopes the performances are enjoyable for the audience. “I really just hope people enjoy the music that they hear, because all the music is so awesome,” he said. “And I hope they start to appreciate the tuba a little more. If people are happy and a little educated when they leave my recital and the Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble concert then I’ll be a happy man.”
If You Go:
What: Octubafest #1 Chamber Music
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Glidden Recital Hall
Cost: Free
What: Octubafest #2 Steven Darling, euphonium
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Glidden Recital Hall
Cost: Free
What: Octubafest #3 Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble and Trombone Choir
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 16
Where: Glidden Recital Hall
Cost: Free
What: Octubafest #4 Student Recitals
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 23
Where: Glidden Recital Hall
Cost: Free
What: Octubafest #5 Visiting Artists Timothy J. Northcut and Timothy Anderson
When: 1 p.m. Oct. 27
Where: Glidden Recital Hall
Cost: Free
What: Octubafest #6 Ohio Brass
When: 8 p.m. Nov. 6
Where: Glidden Recital Hall
Cost: Free
mo403411@ohiou.edu
