A
Commemoration ball or
Commem. ball is a formal
ballA ball is a formal dance. The word 'ball' is derived from the Latin word "ballare", meaning 'to dance'; the term also derived into "bailar", which is the Spanish and Portuguese word for dance . In Catalan it is the same word, 'ball', for the dance event.Attendees wear evening attire, which is...
held by one of the colleges of the
University of OxfordThe University of Oxford , located in the UK city of Oxford, is the oldest surviving university in the English-speaking world and is regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions. Although the exact date of foundation remains unclear, there is evidence of teaching there as far back...
in the 9th week of
Trinity TermTrinity term is the name of the third and final term of Oxford University's and Dublin University's academic year. It runs from about mid April to about the end of June and is named after Trinity Sunday, which falls eight weeks after Easter, in May or June....
, the week after the end of the last Full Term of the academic year, which known as "Commemoration Week". Commemoration balls are held by different colleges each year, following a cycle by which each college holds a ball every three years.
Commemoration Week is so known because of the ceremonies in commemoration of the benefactors of the university that are held then, namely the Commemoration Day sermon formerly held (until 2006) on the Sunday, and the
EncaeniaEncaenia is an academic ceremony usually performed at colleges or universities. It generally occurs some time near the annual ceremony for the general conference of degrees to students...
ceremony (where the annual Creweian Oration in honour of benefactors is given) and garden party on the Wednesday of that week.
A
Commemoration ball or
Commem. ball is a formal
ballA ball is a formal dance. The word 'ball' is derived from the Latin word "ballare", meaning 'to dance'; the term also derived into "bailar", which is the Spanish and Portuguese word for dance . In Catalan it is the same word, 'ball', for the dance event.Attendees wear evening attire, which is...
held by one of the colleges of the
University of OxfordThe University of Oxford , located in the UK city of Oxford, is the oldest surviving university in the English-speaking world and is regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions. Although the exact date of foundation remains unclear, there is evidence of teaching there as far back...
in the 9th week of
Trinity TermTrinity term is the name of the third and final term of Oxford University's and Dublin University's academic year. It runs from about mid April to about the end of June and is named after Trinity Sunday, which falls eight weeks after Easter, in May or June....
, the week after the end of the last Full Term of the academic year, which known as "Commemoration Week". Commemoration balls are held by different colleges each year, following a cycle by which each college holds a ball every three years.
Commemoration Week is so known because of the ceremonies in commemoration of the benefactors of the university that are held then, namely the Commemoration Day sermon formerly held (until 2006) on the Sunday, and the
EncaeniaEncaenia is an academic ceremony usually performed at colleges or universities. It generally occurs some time near the annual ceremony for the general conference of degrees to students...
ceremony (where the annual Creweian Oration in honour of benefactors is given) and garden party on the Wednesday of that week. Commemoration Week was formerly one of two occasions when balls were traditionally held, the other being Eights Week, the 5th week of Trinity term when the Summer Eights bumps races occur. Eights balls are nowadays comparatively rare.
Definition
There is no formal definition of a Commemoration ball, but the usual Oxford convention is to refer only to the larger, triennial balls as Commemoration balls. The dress code is usually
white tieWhite tie is the most formal evening dress code. It is worn to events such as balls, the opera, and formal dinners...
. Many other colleges hold smaller events during Commemoration Week that they call summer balls or parties rather than Commemoration balls. These are usually held on an annual or irregular basis, and are usually
black tieBlack tie is a dress code for semi-formal evening events, and is worn to many types of social functions. For a man, the major component is a jacket, known as a dinner jacket or tuxedo , which is usually black but is also seen in midnight blue...
.
Recent and upcoming balls
In the past, Commemoration balls were held "night after night" by different colleges during Commemoration Week. With many colleges now holding smaller annual summer balls, Commemoration balls are now only held by some of the larger colleges, who still follow the traditional triennial cycle. Currently, in first two years of the three-year cycle there is only one Commemoration ball (held by
Magdalen CollegeMagdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million....
and
New CollegeNew College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Its official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always called "New College"...
respectively), but there are three in the third year of the cycle (in 2008,
Christ ChurchThis article is about the Oxford college. For other uses, see Christ Church or Christchurch .Christ Church , is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
,
Trinity CollegeThe College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol and Blackwells, and opposite...
,
Worcester CollegeWorcester College [ˈwʊstǝ] is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
).
The 2005 Christ Church Commemoration ball was the first to be held by that college for fifteen years, due to an incident at the 1990 ball that led to the Governing Body suspending the ball and replacing it with an annual summer party until 2005.
As of 2009, Oriel College has resumed using the moniker 'commemoration ball' after the term lapsed from usage over the twentieth century.
- 2003 — Magdalen College, Oriel College
- 2004 — New College
- 2005 — Worcester College, Christ Church, Trinity College
- 2006 — Magdalen College, Oriel College
- 2007 — New College
- 2008 — Worcester College, Christ Church, Trinity College
- 2009 — Magdalen College, Oriel College
Performances
Commemoration ball organising committees generally seek to secure private performances from leading entertainers; some notable performances are listed below.
2009
- Feeder
Feeder may refer to:*Feeder , the Welsh rock group*Feeder , another name for a riser*Feeder , someone who gains sexual pleasure from helping another gain weight...
(Magdalen CollegeMagdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million....
)
- Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke is a 1985 fantasy film directed by Richard Donner, starring Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer.In medieval Europe a thief called "The Mouse" escapes the dungeons of Aquila, setting in motion a chain of events that may save or destroy a beautiful woman and a brave captain...
, Scratch PervertsThe Scratch Perverts are a collective of turntablist DJs from the UK, formed in 1996 by Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and DJ Renegade.-Biography:The Scratch Perverts originally consisted of 4 members; Tony Vegas, Renegade, First Rate and Mr Thing. The Scratch Perverts later expanded to an 8-member...
(Oriel College)
2008
- The Wombats
The Wombats are an indie band from Liverpool, UK. They comprise two native Liverpudlians; Matthew Murphy, provider of vocals, guitar, nose-harp and keyboards; drummer/vocalist Dan Haggis and bass player/vocalist Tord Øverland-Knudsen, a Norwegian who has made his home in the city.-History:The...
(Christ ChurchThis article is about the Oxford college. For other uses, see Christ Church or Christchurch .Christ Church , is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
)
- Sugababes
Sugababes are an English all-female pop trio based in London, currently consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen.The group were formed in 1998 by original members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan...
, (Trinity CollegeThe College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol and Blackwells, and opposite...
)
- One Night Only
One Night Only are a British indie rock band from Helmsley, North Yorkshire formed in 2003.-History:One Night Only formed in summer 2003, consisting initially of Mark Hayton, Daniel Parkin, Sam Ford and Kai Smith. The band did not have a vocalist until George Craig, a friend of Ford's brother,...
, LogisticsLogistics is the stage name of Matt Gresham, a drum and bass music producer and DJ from Cambridge, England. He is signed to Hospital Records and has been releasing music since 2004, which he creates using the Reason 2.5 and Cubase sequencers...
(Worcester CollegeWorcester College [ˈwʊstǝ] is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
)
2007
- Ash
Ash is an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The media originally pegged Ash's music as Britpop when the band first found mainstream success...
(New CollegeNew College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Its official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always called "New College"...
)
2006
- Pharrell, Bodyrockers
BodyRockers were an electronic music act, consisting of Dylan Burns and Kaz James. They are best known for their 2005 single, "I Like the Way ".-Background:...
(Magdalen CollegeMagdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million....
)
2005
- Supergrass
Supergrass are an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consists of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Danny Goffey , and Mick Quinn ....
(Trinity CollegeThe College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol and Blackwells, and opposite...
)
1999
- Coldplay
Coldplay are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1998. The group comprises Chris Martin , Jonny Buckland , Guy Berryman , and Will Champion .Coldplay's early material was compared to acts such as Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, U2, and Travis...
, Jools HollandJulian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, songwriter, composer, and television presenter...
(Trinity CollegeThe College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol and Blackwells, and opposite...
)
The 2008 Balls