The Octaves
Encyclopedia
The Octāves is a student-run, all-male a cappella
group from the University of Richmond
. It is the school's oldest a cappella group, forming in the spring of 1990. Since its inception, The Octāves have recorded ten studio albums, its most recent being More Love Faster, released in the fall of 2010; and have embarked on several tours taking them all over the United States.
", and served as a clever reference to the school mascot, the Richmond Spiders
(spiders have eight legs).
Founding members included Scott Edwards ('92), Tripp Hudgins ('92), Rich Miller ('92), John Murphy ('92), Chris O'Brien ('92), Travis Allison ('94), TJ Moffett ('94), Matt Zemon ('94), and Jake Dwinnell ('94). Cathy Chamblee and Amy Craver served as musical directors. Dr. James Erb
, the original faculty advisor, arranged a version of "Shenandoah
" specifically for the group, which has since become a staple of choral repertoire across the nation. It is still frequently sung by the group today, and when Octāves alumni are present in the audience, they are invited to join the group on stage to sing along.
The group is open to perform at a variety of other off-campus occasions, including private events for businesses and collaborations with other a cappella groups. They can be contacted for such purposes on their official website.
On September 26, 1992 The Octāves performed at a Phillies doubleheader
in front of 20,000 people. They sang "The Star-Spangled Banner
" and "The Longest Time
" by Billy Joel
.
On March 19, 2011, The Octāves celebrated their 20th anniversary in conjunction with Spring Fever XVII. Several songs from former generations of the group were revived for the concert, and 25 Octāves alumni returned to Richmond to join the current lineup on stage. Coca-Cola
sponsored the event.
Corner Pocket and Shotgun were both CARA
(Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) nominated for Best Male Collegiate Album of the Year. The Jimmy Eat World
song "For Me This Is Heaven", featured on Corner Pocket, was nominated for Best Male Collegiate Song of the Year. The track "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff
, featured on Shotgun, was runner-up for Best Male Collegiate Arrangement of the Year. The Octāves' rendition of Rob Thomas
' "Lonely No More
", also from Shotgun, was nominated for Best Male Collegiate Song of the Year.
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group from the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
. It is the school's oldest a cappella group, forming in the spring of 1990. Since its inception, The Octāves have recorded ten studio albums, its most recent being More Love Faster, released in the fall of 2010; and have embarked on several tours taking them all over the United States.
History
The name "The Octāves" came from the musical term "octaveOctave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
", and served as a clever reference to the school mascot, the Richmond Spiders
Richmond Spiders
The Richmond Spiders represent the University of Richmond, a member of the NCAA's Division I and a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference for all sports except football and women's golf, which participate as members of the Colonial Athletic Association....
(spiders have eight legs).
Founding members included Scott Edwards ('92), Tripp Hudgins ('92), Rich Miller ('92), John Murphy ('92), Chris O'Brien ('92), Travis Allison ('94), TJ Moffett ('94), Matt Zemon ('94), and Jake Dwinnell ('94). Cathy Chamblee and Amy Craver served as musical directors. Dr. James Erb
James Erb
James "Jim" Erb is an American composer, arranger, musicologist, and conductor.-Career:Erb is best known for his various arrangements of the Folk song "Oh Shenandoah", and among musicologists of the Renaissance for his work on the magnificats of Orlando Di Lasso. He conducted the Richmond Symphony...
, the original faculty advisor, arranged a version of "Shenandoah
Oh Shenandoah
"Oh Shenandoah" is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating at least to the early 19th century...
" specifically for the group, which has since become a staple of choral repertoire across the nation. It is still frequently sung by the group today, and when Octāves alumni are present in the audience, they are invited to join the group on stage to sing along.
Performances
The Octāves perform at several on-campus events each year—most notably the Family Weekend concerts in the Fall semester and the Octāves-hosted Spring Fever in the Spring semester, both with the other University of Richmond a cappella ensembles. They also frequently sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Richmond sporting events and contribute to charity events that happen on campus.The group is open to perform at a variety of other off-campus occasions, including private events for businesses and collaborations with other a cappella groups. They can be contacted for such purposes on their official website.
On September 26, 1992 The Octāves performed at a Phillies doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
in front of 20,000 people. They sang "The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
" and "The Longest Time
The Longest Time
"The Longest Time" is a doo-wop single by Billy Joel. The song was released as a single in 1984 as the fourth single from the album An Innocent Man. It reached number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on Billboards Adult Contemporary chart...
" by Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
.
On March 19, 2011, The Octāves celebrated their 20th anniversary in conjunction with Spring Fever XVII. Several songs from former generations of the group were revived for the concert, and 25 Octāves alumni returned to Richmond to join the current lineup on stage. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
sponsored the event.
Discography and Critical Recognition
The Octāves have recorded a total of 10 albums throughout its history:- The Octāves, 1993
- Groovedaddy, 1994
- Uncharted Waters, 1996
- In Sunshine or Shadow, 1998
- Exhibit Ā, 2001
- This Complete Breakfast, 2003 reviewed by the RARB
- Corner Pocket, 2005 reviewed by the RARB
- Shotgun, 2006 reviewed by the RARB
- Original Copy, 2008 reviewed by the RARB
- More Love Faster, 2010 reviewed by the RARB.
Corner Pocket and Shotgun were both CARA
Contemporary A Cappella Society
The Contemporary A Cappella Society , or CASA, is a 501 charitable organization dedicated to fostering and promoting a cappella music of all styles around the world. CASA was cofounded in 1991 by Deke Sharon by incorporating the first a cappella directory, The List, founded in 1988 & distributed...
(Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) nominated for Best Male Collegiate Album of the Year. The Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
song "For Me This Is Heaven", featured on Corner Pocket, was nominated for Best Male Collegiate Song of the Year. The track "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
, featured on Shotgun, was runner-up for Best Male Collegiate Arrangement of the Year. The Octāves' rendition of Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas (musician)
Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist...
' "Lonely No More
Lonely No More
"Lonely No More" is the first single from Rob Thomas's debut album, …Something to Be. It became his second big solo hit and his biggest solo hit to date. The song peaked inside the Top 10 at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #11 in the UK...
", also from Shotgun, was nominated for Best Male Collegiate Song of the Year.