As I just finish up a tasty bowl of Roundy's Frosted Flakes, I thought I would boast at how awesome Roundy's is. For those of you who do not know what Roundy's is, it is basically a company that gets food that tastes just like the common namebrand food items and slaps a roundy's label on it and sells it at a cheaper price. My trip to the store includes me scavenging the aisles looking for a Roundy's alternative to a common namebrand food item. I have gone the Roundy's route on a number of foods from spaghetti sauce to cereal. If something tastes the same and costs less than the common brand, why choose anything else? Or is it that we all buy things for the logo, or the brand-name because somehow they are better. We all would rather eat a bowl of frosted flakes knowing that Tony the Tiger thinks we are great rather than eat a bowl of Roundy's frosted flakes that has a lame logo of a polar bear hugging a spoon. Well, I use to feel that way... until I became a college student and now I always go with the cheaper foods. Looking back on it, I am glad I made the switch and am 100% a Roundy's Fan. Let me know if you are also a Roundy's fan or if you have any other money saving tips with food.
As the year winds to an end, it is always sad to see the seniors in the band graduate and move on. We have all grown so close with the hours of practice and hundreds of events performed at each year. I try to tell myself to enjoy my time in the band as it lasts, as I know I will miss it dearly. For the band alumni and the student alumni, nothing connects us with our time spent at the university better than music. While new members continuously join the band, and many graduate, the music of the band never changes. It withstands the test of time, and that is why it will continue to connect us all once we move on from the university. The following excerpts explain the history behind the music of Wisconsin. For more information on the history of the band and the traditions at Wisconsin, visit badgerband.com.
On Wisconsin is not only the University "fight song," but it has also been designated as the official State Song of Wisconsin. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular school songs in the country and has been adopted by thousands of high school bands as their own. It is rare to attend a high school football game anywhere in the U.S. and not hear On Wisconsin being performed by at least one of the school bands.
The melody of this famous song was composed in 1909 by W.T. Purdy, a corporation clerk who prior to that time had never set foot in Wisconsin. The words were supplied by Carl Beck, a former University of Wisconsin student. In the parlor of a Chicago boarding house, it took them only several evenings to compose. The pair (who worked for $10 per day each) couldn't scare up the $50 it took to publish the tune. They got a $10 credit from a firm of music plate engravers, used the credit for reference at the printers, and had 500 copies hastily printed.
Written accounts of the earliest performances of On Wisconsin reveal that the first performance occurred on November 10, 1909, when it was sung by the "Glee Club." Purdy performed the song November 11, 1909, at a giant pep rally before the Minnesota game. The song was an instant hit with students singing "Fight fellows, fight, fight, fight, we'll win this game." It was also reported that the UW Band performed the song at the Minnesota game on November 13, 1909.
Over the years many other memorable "events" have happened with On Wisconsin. In 1918, Purdy sold his copyright for less than $100. On July 11, 1959, On WisconsinOn Wisconsin was adopted by the state legislature and signed by Governor Gaylord Nelson as the official state song. Many rumors swirl as to who owns the rights to ranging from Michael Jackson to Paul McCartney. The song is considered to be in the public domain.
John Philip Sousa has called On Wisconsin, "the finest of college marching songs." Traditions such as this make On Wisconsin a personal university to faculty, students, and alumni everywhere.
Over the years, the Wisconsin Band has presented many versions of On Wisconsin. We give you two versions for your listening pleasure.
Lyrics
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Plunge right through that line! Run the ball clear down the field, (originally "Run the ball clear 'round Chicago") A touchdown sure this time. On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Fight on for her fame Fight! Fellows! - fight, fight, fight! We'll win this game.
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Stand up, Badgers, sing! "Forward" is our driving spirit, Loyal voices ring. On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Raise her glowing flame Stand, Fellows, let us now Salute her name!
Varsity For nearly a century this song of praise (originally a Latin Hymn entitled Domine Salvam Fac written by the famous French operatic composer, Charles Gounod) has held a special place in the hearts of Wisconsin students, fans, and alumni. It was in 1898 that Henry Dyke Sleeper, a young instructor in the University's School of Music, adapted Gounod's original work, arranged the music, provided words, and published the new version of the song he called Varsity Toast. Today it is impossible to attend an official university function without hearing those simple but stirring strains. In 1934, Wisconsin Band Director, Ray Dvorak, introduced the now famous "arm swinging" which has made performance of this alma mater one of the most thrilling "sights" as well as sounds to be found in any stadium in the world.
Lyrics
Varsity! Varsity! U-rah-rah! Wisconsin, Praise to thee we sing! Praise to thee, our Alma Mater, U-rah-rah! Wisconsin!
Songs To Thee Wisconsin is one of the best loved songs in the Wisconsin songbook and it is a melody which never fails to stir emotion in the loyal Badger alumni and fans. The music for Songs To Thee Wisconsin was composed by Louis Spohr (1784 - 1859), a German violinist and composer who considered himself an ardent disciple of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Spohr was a prolific composer who wrote oratorios, symphonies, concertos and chamber music. He wrote the melody which is used for Songs To Thee Wisconsin around 1853 calling it Proudly as the Eagle. The words were written by E. A. Bredin, who adopted it for Wisconsin. Although traditionally only one verse is sung, Bredin composed three verses to the Spohr melody. This song is played by the band during pre-game immediately after the concert tune.
The Wisconsin Band presents Songs To Thee Wisconsin in various versions throughout the year. Here are two of those.
Lyrics
Songs to thee Wisconsin, ever let us sing, Praise to alma mater, ever let us bring. Queen of all the west, college we love best Queen of all the west, college we love best
May thy sons and daughters in thy jubilee See the dawn of greater, grander things to be. May thou e'er inspire, heav'nly wisdom's fire. May thou e'er inspire, heav'nly wisdom's fire.
May we ever cherish memories of thee, See the dawn of greater, grander things to be. Queen of all the west, college we love best Queen of all the west, college we love best
On Wisconsin Finale
Since 1976, the Wisconsin Band has concluded their final home half-time show of the season in the same manner ... with the On Wisconsin Finale. The music and the movements for this tradition stem from the finale of a production first presented on November 17, 1973, which was entitled "The Band Goes Abroad." Since then the Band has used the arrangement as a musical signature not only for the final home game, but also for a number of significant yearly events, including the annual Spring Concert.
The routine remains basically unchanged. While playing a maestoso version of On Wisconsin, the Band moves into a series of vertical lines. On cue, the lines flow rapidly into the letters ON WIS. As the arrangement nears its conclusion, the musicians high-step toward the audience. There is a long drum roll and a knee bow as the public address announcer assures: "We never say goodbye ... simply we'll see you next year ... and ON WISCONSIN!"
The finale never fails to elicit a standing ovation from the partisan Badger crowd and a very emotional reaction from all the graduating seniors who have just marched for the last time in Camp Randall Stadium.
Us Wisconsinites finally got a taste of summer this weekend. It was the kind of weather that makes you wonder if you really have school the next week. I am so use to the cold days here in Madison that I often forget about the entire summer season. It doesn't help that I usually don't stay in Madison in the summer, but winter still has a way of erasing our summer thoughts. So when that temperature rises to 70 degrees, those thoughts slowly creep back. I think that everyone has an activity that pops into their head on the first warm day of the year. Some just like to read a book outside, get some sun and relax, or go for a bike ride. While all of those are great, my summer activity is definitely to play baseball, and this Sunday I did just that. I guess it stems all the way back to my childhood where my baseball league practices would start up in the spring and the summer would be met with games every week. Playing ball under the bright lights on a warm summer night will always remind me of being a kid. It is one activity that I hope to someday share with my kids the way my dad did with my brother and I.
Logically, with all these thoughts about summer, I spent very little time on homework. I am sure some of you have similar stories and I want to know what your favorite summer activity is.
Last night was our dress rehearsal for the varsity band spring concert. We got to play with our guest artists Nat Mcintosh on tuba and sousaphone, founder of the youngblood brass band and Mark Pender on trumpet, from The Max Weinberg 7 on Late night with Conan O'brien. Nat was actually a student here at Madison at one point, and can do amazing things with his instrument. I have always been a fan of Conan O'brien and the max weinberg 7. Mark is the bald trumpet guy, he is hard to miss. They both are amazing musicians and we will be playing a number of pieces with both of them. My definite favorite is a song called Brooklyn by the young blood brass band where Nat will be playing along with us. Here is a music clip of the original song. Tickets are still available for tonight's concert and the weekend so don't hesitate!
It's Sunday night and as I sit down to finish up my homework for Monday I find myself asking... where did the weekend go? The days of working for the weekend seem to be over, because it is quite the opposite. These past weeks I have had either tests to study for or papers to write and I find myself huddled away in some corner of Steenbock (the best library ever) at 10 am on a Saturday. It is hard to imagine that in a month it will be summer and I will actually be sleeping in until 10 am on my Saturdays. It just seems like too much to ask. I guess it is times like these that you keep working towards the light at the end of the tunnel. It is just hard to find the motivatio when you know another hurdle is waiting right around the corner. I suppose the best way to handle my stress is to read a book or play a video game. Those are the only two activities that seem to completely clear my mind. The only problem is both can be addicting so I tend to keep them on a minimum. I'm curious to hear what everyone else does to relieve stress from school or work. With the end of the semester approaching, I am sure all of us could use a few pointers.
This last week marks one of my favorite times of the year: the start of the baseball season! I am a Arizona Diamondbacks fan as I use to live there when the franchise started ten years ago. I even got to go to game six of the Diamondbacks v. Yankees 2001 world series (which we won by the way). After watching the diamondbacks franchise start their first season, to watching them win a world series, it is hard to ever like any other team. Now, after saying that, I must admit that the only other team that holds any spot in my heart is the Brew crew. I have spent my life either living in Wisconsin or Arizona, and my choice in favorite teams shows just that. I like the diamondbacks for baseball, and the packers for football. I mean come on, how could I even support the Arizona Cardinals when more than half of the people that go to the games go to watch the other team.
Despite that, I firmly believe that people should find "their" team and support them win or lose. That is the one thing that Wisconsin fans do best. It disgusts me seeing so many red sox hats and shirts popping up all over the place ever since they have won the world series. Baseball is a game built around the loyalty of fans, and each team needs that support. Don't go jumping on any bandwagons just because your team is losing and another team is winning. In my perfect world, all baseball games would be sold out regardless of how the team is playing, as fans just love to watch their team play. I would also probably take all of Alex Rodriguez millions of dollars and donate it and eliminate the Yankees from baseball (but that is beside the point). So for you brew crew fans reading this, I hope you supported your team even when you didn't have fielder popping fourty plus homers. Support your team not for the love of winning, but for the love of the game.
