Their sound is as much felt as heard, the lowest notes on the musical scale pumped through 15 to 18 feet of heavy brass tubing, and we salute them on
INTERNATIONAL TUBA DAY!
From Classical to Jazz to Zydeco to the Oompah Music that is named after this instrument’s sound, the humble Tuba is the workhorse of ensemble music.
You won’t hear a lot of tuba solos, or read about a lot of wild and crazy tuba players trashing hotel rooms with a half dozen naked groupies.
They provide the bedrock upon which the other instruments build their melodies, laying down the law in the form of bass notes, sweet and low. Tuba players are a hardy lot, with enough strength to handle these brass monsters and enough lung power to produce those perfect fat round tones. Blow, brother, blow!
•Suggested Activities: Oompah the day away with Taj Mahal’s “The Real Thing” album.