Oom. Pah. Oom. Pah. You may not know exactly what oom pah pah means, but chances are you know it when you hear it.
That unmistakable brass-band sound has been filling beer halls, festivals and village celebrations across Germany and Austria since the 19th century. The “oom” comes from the low-sounding instruments (think tuba or another bass instrument laying down the steady beat). The “pah” comes from the brass and other instruments playing the melody and accents on top. Put them together and you’ve got the musical equivalent of a room full of people tapping their toes, raising their steins and wondering when the next polka starts.
The sound became closely associated with Bavarian folk music, marches and waltzes, and eventually became a defining part of the Oktoberfest experience. Traditional bands feature tubas, trumpets, trombones, clarinets, accordions and percussion, creating a sound that’s equal parts festive, lively and impossible to sit still through.
So, when you hear that familiar oom-pah rhythm at Fairplex’s Oktoberfest, you’ll know exactly what you’re hearing, and exactly what you’re supposed to do.
Fairplex is bringing the traditional German sound to Oktoberfest with The Rheinlanders, who will be keeping the bier flowing and the good times rolling with classic German favorites, some oom-pah contemporaries and the beloved Chicken Dance.
The Rheinlanders play nightly at Oktoberfest, Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 2–17. Get tickets to Oktoberfest at Fairplex.com/Oktoberfest.
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