Oom-pah
Oom-pah, Oompah or Umpapa is the rhythmical sound of a deep brass instrument in a band, a form of background ostinato.
The oom-pah sound is usually made by the tuba alternating between the root of the chord and the 5th — this sound is said to be the oom. The pah is played on the off-beats by higher-pitched instruments such as the clarinet, accordion or trombone. Oompah is often associated with Volkstümliche Musik, a form of popular German music, and with polka. In triple time genres such as the waltz it is oom-pah-pah.
The musical Oliver! contains a song named "Oom-Pah-Pah", which is named after the oom-pah.
A more modern variation is the playing of contemporary pop and rock songs in an Oompah style, by bands such as Global Kryner and Oompah Brass .
