College and University Bands
Almostevery college has its football team and its band, and every year some of these bands put on exhibitions which rival great Broadway shows. But these organizations have come a long way since college bands began.
The first entertainments staged by the bands at football games usually consisted of formation of the initials of the opposing teams. Year by year their efforts became more ambitious and the results grew more elaborate. Today they carry out intricate designs with perfect precision while the appropriate music rolls on directed by one or more strutting drum majors whirling their gleaming batons high in the air.
Spectacular formations have included a flag with a “C” inside it, which waved as the band played “Wave the Flag for Old Chicago.” Another was a stalk of corn that “grew” on the fifty-yard line in honor of the University of Iowa. A giant clock was portrayed with a second-hand that moved around telling the time accurately. The word “Ohio” appeared changing into“Auto” with the O’s as wheels so it rolled down the field.
Other figures showed a “Gopher” for Minnesota, a “Mustang” for Southern Methodist, a “Trojan Horse” for Southern California and a “Wildcat” for Northwestern.
These shows have to be exactly timed to a split-second for there are just fifteen minutes in the period between halves. When both college bands are present, each one has only a brief 7½ minutes for its performance although there must have been hours and hours of practicing both the marching and the music.
In addition to the marching band many colleges and universities have concert bands and often well-trained orchestras. These band departments are under full-time conductors and bandmasters and the players receive full college credits.
For many years the University of Illinois Band has been called the “largest, finest college band in the world.” 360 to 380 members are on its rolls. It consists of three organizations: the concert band and the first and second regimental bands. The highest ranking unit is the concert band of from 115 to 125 pieces. Membership in the three bands is based on the student’s proficiency.
The Illinois University Band is used by the entire University, playing for all special occasions, commencement and other events. The football marching band is made up of the concert band, the first regimental band and at times it is aided by some members of the second. Frequently the band plays over local radio stations.
The football marching band is made up of the concert band and the first regimental group, two-hundred or more bandsmen. It makes an impressive appearance in the brilliant orange and blue uniforms, every instrument held in proper position and every movement in perfect unison.
A picturesque figure precedes the great band. One of the men representing Chief Illiniwek, the symbol of the fighting Illini, dressed in the traditional Sioux Indian costume, does an Indian dance down the field in front of the band.
The Illinois University Bands, famed not only for size but also for the excellent quality of their playing, owe their reputation to Doctor Albert A. Harding, for so long a time their leader. Through many years his was the outstanding name among college band conductors in the United States.
“Austin” was born in Georgetown, Illinois, but after his mother’s death when he was a small boy, helived with his grandparents in the little town of Paris, Illinois.
He acquired his first musical training by tooting a cheap brass cornet in a practice room which was actually an old barn. His music rack was the dashboard of an antiquated sleigh.
His grandfather, a loyal Democrat, was quite disgusted when his grandson played his horn in a Republican rally for William McKinley. “Aus,” as the boy was called, was asked to learn the fife and play in a fife and drum corps organized by the Illinois State Republican Committee. Instead the boy bought a piccolo and became such an expert player that he was appointed leader of the high school band. After his graduation young Harding became leader of a dance orchestra, playing for dances in Champaign and Urbana, Illinois; Terre Haute, Indiana and the surrounding area.
Upon entering the University of Illinois, Harding majored in Engineering and also kept on with his musical activities. He played in the University band as well as in several local organizations. In 1905, his senior year, Harding was asked to direct the University band of about fifty pieces. This position Harding held for forty-three years, building—according to John Philip Sousa—“the greatest college band in the country.”
Harding was a kindly, sympathetic man, always friendly and helpful to his students. He originated the popular Band Clinics, now grown to state, regionaland national scope. Another of Dr. Harding’s creative ideas was the use of a-capella singing without instruments on the football field. The “March of the Illini” sung in this way always ended the half-time show in a football game. He also introduced the popular, marching-type glockenspiel, called the “bell-lyra,” because of its lyre-shaped frame.
From the time Harding began with the band in 1905, he trained it in accordance with his belief that a university band should reflect the quality and dignity of the university itself. He always had the theory that the band should play the same type music that is played by the orchestra. He insisted that at least a part of the program should consist of symphonic music.
Dr. Harding received many honors during his years of service in the University. His fame was widespread. In 1936 the music publishers of Great Britain paid Harding’s expenses to England and Europe to obtain his advice and counsel on music publication matters. He was treated with the honors usually accorded a visiting ruler.
In 1941 at the first University and College Band Conference, Harding was unanimously elected Honorary President for life. He was given the high military honor of a Colonel in the Illinois National Guard on the Governor’s staff. Both the Phillips University of Oklahoma and Davidson College of North Carolina awarded Harding the honorary degree of Doctor of Music. He has been guest conductor of many of themost famous bands ever assembled in the United States, and has served as adjudicator of thirty state band contests and four National meets.
Doctor Harding not only directed the vast activities of the University bands and orchestra, but during his years of service he put in countless hours of night work, transcribing, composing and arranging music for these groups. There is little music published with parts for an organization of more than 350 men. But Harding’s knowledge of the range and quality of every variety of instrument and his great talent enabled him to provide much original material for his great band.
Because of his deep admiration for Harding, John Philip Sousa bequeathed his huge band library to the University of Illinois. This band department now possesses one of the most complete musical libraries in this country.
In 1934 Mark H. Hindsley became Assistant Director of the Illinois University Band. He has since worked constantly with Dr. Harding with the exception of the time he spent in military service during 1942-1946.
Professor Hindsley was graduated “with high distinction” from Indiana University in 1925. He was one of five men chosen as a Rhodes Fellowship contestant.He received his A.M. degree from the same university in 1927, and at that time was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key.
His thorough musical education was continued in a number of well-known schools of music, including the University of Illinois; and the Sherwood School of Music, Chicago. Professor Hindsley was Director of Bands and Music Instructor for four years at his Alma Mater. His next position was Director of Instrumental Music at Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 1929-1934. From there he went to assist Dr. Harding, becoming Acting-Director of the University Band of Illinois in 1948. Upon Dr. Harding’s retirement in 1950, Professor Hindsley succeeded him as Head of the Band Department.
Professor Hindsley’s professional experience has been broadened by extensive summer teaching in a dozen or more of the big-name universities. He has been in great demand as a guest conductor and adjudicator of contests. As a composer and writer on musical subjects Professor Hindsley has achieved a wide reputation. He is also the recipient of many honors and honorary memberships in Musical and Educational associations.
Several decades ago a drum major in a Michigan University Band tossed his shining baton high over the goal post. This stunt was copied by nearly every college band in this country. A tradition exists at Ann Arbor that at each football game the drum major must thus throw his baton on highand catch itif the Michigan team is to win.
The University of Michigan Band was first mentioned in the school annals of 1844. It was then an organization of nine men. From that time through three score years and ten the band led an intermittent existence. In 1895 it was recognized officially when the Board of Regents ordered the band to furnish music at football games, during Commencement week and for other social events. Three years later the Athletic Association purchased the first uniforms for the musicians.
Captain Wilfred Wilson in 1915 became a member of the faculty, to teach band instruments and conduct the band of seventy members. The next director, Mr. Larson, who served for one year, was followed by Nicholas Falcone. His work was very successful through a long period.
William D. Revelli succeeded Falcone in 1935 and under his skillful leadership the University of MichiganBand has become outstanding among all University bands of the country. “A model band” it is called by one of the most prominent conductors in the United States.
This organization is composed of three units: the Wolverine Marching Band, Varsity Band and the Concert Band. There is a combined membership of more than 250.
The Marching Band admits no women players. The other two units accept both men and women, but only those who are extremely competent can become members of any division of this university band. In addition, each member must meet all scholastic requirements and pass the physical examination. The Varsity Band is, of course, a feeder for the Concert and Marching Bands. The Wolverine Marching Band has established a wide reputation for perfect precision in marching and in making intricate formations on the football field.
The University of Michigan’s Symphonic Band numbers about one hundred members. It is rated throughout the United States as an unusually fine concert band. Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman, the famous New York bandmaster has said, “The University of Michigan Symphony Band stands without a peer among college bands.”
A late issue of a national magazine is quoted as saying: “It steps fastest and plays best of the college outfits that provide music and spectacle on football fields. The Michigan College Marching Band is to today’s football what frosting is to cake. The brassy music andresplendent uniforms are as spirited a part of the spectacle as the game itself.
“In the past few decades the country’s 500 college and university bands have perfected a type of music and military choreography that by now has become a specialized American popular art form.
“This art form reached a peak at the University of Michigan—Revelli.”
Dr. William D. Revelli is generally recognized today as one of the leading band conductors of the United States. He received an extensive musical training, having studied under such noted instructors as Felix Borowski, Leon Sametini, Charles Spadoni, L. V. Saar and George Dasch. His education was continued at the Beethoven Music Conservatory in St. Louis, the Chicago Musical College, Columbia Music School and the Vandercook School of Music in Chicago.
In 1925 Dr. Revelli was appointed Supervisor of Music in the Hobart, Indiana public schools, a post which he held for ten years. From there he went to the University of Michigan as Conductor of Bands and Wind Instruments. At that time Revelli was the only instructor of the Band Department with its ninety-six members. Today it lists seventeen instructors for its more than 350 bandsmen.
Through almost a score of years Dr. Revelli has upheldthe highest ideals for perfect band performances by all the units of the Michigan University Bands. These high standards have exerted a great influence upon all college and university music organizations over the country. This conductor believes that a College band is of the greatest help to a student majoring in music. It gives him “opportunity for concert ensemble experience, a knowledge of music theory, composition, conducting and social contacts as well as skill in performing.”
In June, 1947, in acknowledgement of his worthwhile work in the field of music, the degree of Doctor of Music was given Mr. Revelli by the Chicago Musical College. Many other honors have been awarded this great music master: he was made a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bandmasters’ Association, member of Alpha Kappa Lamda, Phi Mu Alpha, Honorary National Grand President of Kappa Kappa Psi and of many other Societies. For about fifteen years Dr. Revelli has edited the Band Department of theEtude, a leading music magazine, and for more than five years he has been editor of the Michigan Band Series.
Each year, in every part of the United States Dr. Revelli makes numerous appearances as a guest conductor, a clinician or a judge of band festivals. Without doubt he is one of the country’s outstanding band conductors.