1928.
"THE MIC-HIGAN DXAILY
_._ . ,, ., _ . .r. ....
___
MICHICGAN MAINTAINS COMPLETE, BESTKNOWN
COLLEG[ MUSIC CATALOG IN UNITED STATES
CABINET OFFICER
MAY RESIGN POST
MUSIC IS MO(TIVATING POWER
THAT PROMOTES
LOYALTY
SONGS AROUSE SPIRIT
Tappani 'Singing Oak' Was Christened
Hy Classes Of '58, 'Who
Started ('ustomn
E'DITOR'S NOT: his is the first
of as iics of weekly articles to be pre-
sented. by The Daily on the llistory of
Michigan Music and the Union Operas.
Themtei al foe these - articles was
Comied by Airs. Minnie MacJes Root,
an iier of the ichigan Msic Shop
in the Arcde,. who has for years fostered
M eigax aspirit in the work which she has
doi, unaitded, for the permanence of its
music-
Two thousand freshmen gather at
lill auditorium and are introduced to
Michigan's songs and spirit. A great
stadium is dedicated in the fire of i
autumn and pageantry, inseparable
from America's greatestcollege game.
The band, attired in Maize and Blue,
marching down the field to the swing
of "Varsity" or "The Victors," pre-
'sents a view which is not easily to be
forgotten. Few realize that the Uni-
versity of Michigan is the home of the
most famous and complete college
music catalogues in the country. The
history of Michigan music,tand of its
composers, is obscure in the minds of
most students and is certainly not
too well defined in the minds of even
tile most loyal alumni.
Not one of us would admit of dis-
loyalty to Michigan, yet we brazenly
brag of our lack of knowledge regard-
ing the origin and meaning of Michi-
gan songs. Music is the spark, with--
out which the latent power of the Uni-
versity spirit is useless. If Michigan
'songs are on the wane, there is little
to conclude but that loyalty, school
spirit, and the old time "fight" which
made itself manifest in those ancient
U-hall mass meetings, is also on the
decline. The games themselve'S are
ephemeral, and are but passing fires
which warm the thousands of specta-
tors for in instant and vanish. But
the songs are carried away with the
multitude of game-goers in their mem-
ories and in their hearts. It is the
songs that recall college days to the
graduate, and it is to them that he I
nons for comfort.
This is the reason for presenting
4is outline of the history, of Michi-
gan songs-that the spirit of the Uni-
versity of Michigan.may not die. It
is only by the collective singing of
songs that are traditions that the fine
spirit and loyalty of Michigan students
can be aroused. Growth anld pro-'
gress too often mean distintegration.
Music hath its charms, and power not
only to "soothetthe savage breast,"
but to inspire the weak to stronger
fforts. . . , so we cheer, we cheer
"with might and main" for Michigan
in order that its battle song's may not
,become its swan songs!
To these of you who have gathered
around "Tappan Oak" for the singing
of the "Yellow and the Blue," it must
be incredulous that this custom is
not as old as the Univer'sity itself.
Yet it is true that at the time this
singing oak, as it is called, was
christened by the venerable class of
'58, there had not been a single song
written which was typical of the Uni-
versity of Michigan.)
"Of all the features of college life,"
says the Palladium of 1860, "which
fix imperishable associations and bind
indissolubly the heart of friend to
friend, we hail the advent of none
with more unqaalfied gratification
than that of college songs. Although
their adoption and use has not become
general, yet prediction was made for
their universal favor; and we trust
that the cordiality with which they
were welcomed might, in some mea-
sure, atone for their tardy appearance
at our college."
The next step in the developmnt
was the :appearance of ;the "Songs of
the Sixty-Threes." In the winter of
1864-65, the Palladium board, in an-
swer to popular demand for a typical
Michigan song, offered a prize of
$10 for the best original song. Presi-
dent Haven and Professors Frieze
and Evans passed upon the produc-
tions, and selected two of equal merit;
one entitled "Michigan Song," adapted
to the tune of the Marselles., and
written by Arthur H. Snow, '65; and
the other written by James K. Blish,
entitled "Our College Home," which
was adapted to the old familiar tune
of "Upidee." These soangs, and one
RIBBONS AND
SUPPLIES
for aU makes of
TYPEWRITERS
Rapid turnover, fresh stock insures
best quality at a moderate price.
O. D. MORRILL
17 Nickels Arcade. Phone 6615.
entitled "Let Every Student Fill His
Bowl," by Richard S. Dewey, '69, con-
tinued to be the favorites of the Uni-
versity for 20 years. It was not until
1889 that a really pretentious collec-
tion of University of Michigan songs
appeared. In that year Charles Mills
Gayley and Fred Newton Scott, with
the assistance of Professor Albert A.
Stanley, brought out "The Yellow and
Blue Collection." This collection met
with immediate favor and contained
the best of Michigan's 'songs. It en-
joyed the unique distinction of being
the first Michigan song book ever pub-
lished, Sheehan's Book Store being the
publisher.
The next step in the development
was the "Victors," written by Louis
Elbel, '00, who before coning to
Michigan was known as the "Wonder
Pianist." Elbel was a musician of tal-
ent and had studied music extensively
in Germany. His interest in sports,
and especially in football and track,
might have caused him to flavor the
"Victors" with some of the dash and
vigor of the games.
The immediate success of the new
song was aided by circumstances. In
the spring of 1890 the University of
Michigan was mourning its lack of. a
band, and all because there was then
no student council, Michigan Union,
nor any other campus organization
which jcared to take the financial
risks of 'satisfying a group of musi-
cians struggling for expression. But
one individual saw the light! He was
Otto H. Hans, a Law student from
South Bend, Ind., and at that time
business manager of the Michigan
Daily. Mr. Hans suggested a Varsity
Minstrel show, the proceeds of which
were to go directly to benefit the m-
poverished band. Louis Elbel, who
was also an enterprising South Bend-
er, was asked to write something orig-
inal for the show. That very evening
the "Victors" was born, being written
exclusively for the minstrel show. The
night preceding the show, it happened
that John Philip Sousa's famous band
was engaged to play in U-hall. The
band played the "Victors" in public,
and the march was well received.
With promise of better things, the
University of Michigan band took
heart and was allowed to lead a par-
ade' advertising the minstrel show.
As a result the show played two
nights to packed houses in the old
Athens theater, which later became
the Whitney. The Victors march
made a decided hit, was produced and
dedicated to the football team of 1898,
and played by the University orches-
tra. The words of the march were
sung for the first time by the glee
club chorus of the mistel show.
Edward DuPont, son of a University
professor, was then manager o the
embryo Michigan band. A major por-
tion of the funds cleared from the
minstrel show were turned over to
him for the support of the band.
Decrepit instruments were changed
for new, and thread-bare uniforms
traded for respectable one's, suitable
to the players of Michigan's now fam-
ous battle song. It is a paradox that
the poverty of the Michigan band
should have given Michigan one of
her strongest marches. But from that
time on the Victors has been our fight
song. Yet not alone our fight song,
but the 'song that inspired American
soldiers and sailors during the hectic
days of the last great war. Copies
of the Victors were sent all over the
world by Mrs. M. M. Root and to battle
ships on every sea. When the Ameri-
can hand led our soldiers beneath the
Arch of Triumph in Paris at the close
of the war, they were playing the
Victors. And who has attended the
football games at old Ferry field or
at th'e new stadium, and not failed to
William J'. Jardine
Secretary of agriculture who has
been reported to be planning to quit
the cabinet and head a co-operative
marketing organization.
IMPROVE LAKE BEACH
FOR FRESH_ AIR CAMP
Dredging of the swimming beach at
the Student Christian association
Fresh Air camp, on Patterson Lake, is
being carried on this week, in antici-
pation of the pleasure and benefit to
be derived by the 400 boys who are
chosen to be guests at the camp dur-
ing the coming summer.'
Donations of three new lodges,
which will accommodate 10 boys each,
have been promised for the near fu-
ture. As soon as the weather permits
a number of other improvements are
to be put under way. These addition-
al lodges will raise the financial budg-
et of the camp, and it is hoped that
the extra money may be raised by an
unusually enthusiastic student support
during tag days for the camp, which
have been set for May 14 and 15. Rich,
who is chairman of tag day committee,
has announced that the honor societ-
ies and the "M" club, as in former
years, would probably aid in the so-
liciting of the students on those days.
Booths will be arranged at various
points on the campus, and it is urged
that it be remembered that it costs
$30.00 to send one boy to camp for one
month.
hear thousands of hoarse throats bel-
low in unsion with hundreds of foot-
ball tenrs and stadium contraltos the
words of that Michigan march:
Hail! to the Victors valiant,
Hail; to the conquering heroes,
Zhail! Hail! to Michigan,
The leaders and best!
Hail! to the victors valiant,
Hail! to the conquering heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
The champions of the West!
At every football game it is the
custom to sing "The Yellow and the
Blue" and then to follow with the
rousing air and quick time of the
Victors." The Victors was the first
Michigan song ever published in sheet
form. It was brought out by Elbel
Brothers in sheet form for piano, two
mandolins, and guitar, and for band.
Glee clubs and mandolin clubs at this
University, and later throughout the
,country, play and sing this song. It
is the ideal ensemble number, giving
the inspiration felt by heroes of the
world war who took heart when voices
combined in singing "Hail to the Vic-
tors valiant.. ....Now for a cheer,
'they are here, triumphant!"
FISHERY 0DEPARTMENT
INSTALLED IN MUSEUM
Will Be Located In North Wing 40f
Building And Will Iave
Large Acquarium
CARL HUBBS IS CURATOR
Seldom heard of, but yet continually
active, is the university division of
fisheries, recently established in the
new museum. Now, in the north wing
of the new building, the department is
being rapidly installed, filling over a
dozen of the rooms on the main floor
and having enormous storerooms in
the, basement underneath that.
A long room on the east of the cor-
ridor has been set aside for an ac-
quarium where experiments with liv-
ing fish will be conducted. Here every
fish from American trout to South Am-
erican specimens will be accommodat-
ed. A special room' underneath the
aquarium will contain water purifiers,
pumps, ozonators, and refrigerators
which will keep the fish comfortable.
Provide Laboratory
Next to the aquarium is a laboratory
for graduate students. Each student
will have his own separate library and
section of the room. Fish nets and
equipment for spearing specimens are
stored in a dark room opening off the
class room. And in one corner is a
small elevator which will be used es-
pecially to carry fish 'fron the main
floor to the storeroom' underneath.
The storeroom in the basement is
over a hundred feet long and it is
lined with shelves like the stacks of a
library. On these shelves already col-
lections of rare fishes in glass jars
are located. A special room up stairs
has been set aside for the files of the
storeroom in the basement.
Offices on First Floor
The offices of Carl L. Hubbs, curator
of fishes, on the first floor are outfitted
with special file cases to keep track
of the enorm-ous collections maintain-
ed. A special room has been set a-
side, moreover, for visiting investigat-
ors in the department. And a few
rooms up the hall is the federal fish
conservation department which coop-
erates with University in experiments
in the water inhabitants. They are to
conduct experiments on the fishes of
Lake Erie next summer.
A public exhibition of the collection
of the fishes will be maintained along
with other exhibits on the balcony of
the exhibition room, which will be de-
voted to collections of Michigan wild
life.
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-Be-
cause of considerable disagreement as
to what constituted a proper form
of entertainment, the traditional Uni-
versity night has been dropped by the
university committee.
cheating on examinations._ ___ _ _
_I' w rn ~ w ~ r rt~i~ i. r m '
.. ..
MAY FESTIVAL
Ann Arbor, May 16, 17, 18, 19
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6 East Eighty-First Street
Member of the
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF TEACHERS
OF SINGING
February 28, 1928.
Mr. Charles A. Sink,
University School of Music,
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dear Mr. Sink:-
Declaration of Independence
This month we commemorate the 185th birthday anniversary
of that illustrious patriot, statesman, and third president of the
United States-THOMAS JEFFERSON. All honor to
his memory as author of the greatest document in the history
of these United States-the Declaration of Independence!
While enjoying personal Freedom and the pursuit of happi-
ness, can you also boast of Financial Independence? Thrift
is the only means of gtining it.
ANN ARBOR SAVINGS BANK
0
First-Class
I have received your leaflet announcing
the 35th Annual May Festival in Ann Arbor.
Such a record is indeed a matter for con-
gratulations and for civic pride.
These Festivals have been a great factor
in the dcvclopment of music in the middle
west, and what a galaxy of artists you have as-
sembled for the interpretation of the very in-
teresting nrograms to be given this year!
Shoe
Re inin z
1.1
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