Dartmouth College Marching Band
Encyclopedia
The Dartmouth College Marching Band (abbr. DCMB) is an officially recognized student organization of Dartmouth College
, and is the oldest marching band
in the Ivy League
.
in the Ivy League
. Since the 1960s, the DCMB has been a "scatter band
" like every Ivy League marching band excepting Cornell
's band.
During the fall, the band attends all home football games and usually two to three of the away games. For the pre-game and halftime of each game, the band writes a script, intended to be humorous, which is read over the loudspeaker as the band scrambles into a formation which relates to the jokes in the script. During the football game, the band plays during offensive first downs and after any points are scored, and supplies various chants and songs.
Once football season is over, the DCMB remains active by acting as a pep band at hockey and basketball games, as well as by playing at various special events on campus such as Winter Carnival.
The band includes a kazoo section as well as a "liquid percussion" section, in which kegs and jugs are used as percussion instruments. Although many other scatter bands have similar percussion groups (such as Princeton's "Trash Percussion" section), the DCMB is the only band in the Ivy League to include a kazoo section. .
While the band does have official faculty representatives, the organization is primarily student-run. The President holds overarching power, the General Manager organizes on-campus and off-campus events, the Drum Major creates the formations and leads marching, and the Conductor picks songs to play and conducts the band. In addition, other members of the "Directorate" deal with equipment management, show writing, publicity, social life, supplying music, maintaining lists, and other various necessary tasks. Positions are filled with a mixture of election and appointment. By DCMB tradition, the Governor
of Hawaii
is an ex officio member of directorate, and supreme authority rests with the Coke
Machine. The coke machine in Morton Hall was elected to the directorate in November 1988 when Tor Blaisdell ran for president unopposed. Mr. Blaisdell was elected as president, while the Coke Machine became a member of the DCMB directorate.
The uniform consists of black pants, a white turtleneck shirt, and a green blazer for football games. As with other scatter bands
, this uniform was traditionally customarily accessorized with silly hats and buttons, but this has changed in recent years to a more professional look.. In the winter, these uniforms are traded in for rugby shirts striped in green and white.
The Dartmouth College Marching Band maintains itself as one of the most tradition-centric organizations on campus, and as a group on the forefront of student spirit. The band's goofy nature and non-traditional attire are characteristics shared with most other Ivy League bands. The band's motto, which distinguishes it from many student groups
on campus for its non-Latin origin, is "The Band Always Wins!" and "Hey Band!-Hey What!"
As much a social organization as a musical group, members of the group participate in intramural sports, maintain an active e-mail discussion list, and hold various social events throughout the year. The e-mail list is known as the "Socialist," a name that reflects upon its addictively communal nature and combines the words "social" and "list."
, to which the football team and audience members sing, followed by an arrangement of Hey Baby from the "Dirty Dancing
" soundtrack. Before football games, the band marches to tailgate parties, as well as through Hanover, New Hampshire
's Main Street for home games, playing "Louie, Louie" and the Dartmouth Tunes.
Every Dartmouth Night Weekend, the band doubles in size as alumni return wearing sweaters knitted by the Faculty Advisor's wife, and march with the band. Some alumni have come back for more than 50 homecomings. The band demonstrates its only fancy marching during the halftime show, as band members march directly into a "D" formation.
Each year, one away game is picked to be a three-day trip, during which time band members climb a skyscraper and sing Dartmouth songs on its top floor. Other yearly social events include a bowling trip, a potluck dinner for the freshmen, a scavenger hunt, a tradition-filled 'banquet' dinner, and others.
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, and is the oldest marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
in the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
.
About the DCMB
Formed during the 1889 season, the Dartmouth College Marching Band is the oldest marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
in the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
. Since the 1960s, the DCMB has been a "scatter band
Scramble band
A scramble band - also known as a scatter band - is a particular type of field-performing marching band with distinct characteristics that set it apart from other common forms of marching bands; most notably, scramble bands do not normally march...
" like every Ivy League marching band excepting Cornell
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
's band.
During the fall, the band attends all home football games and usually two to three of the away games. For the pre-game and halftime of each game, the band writes a script, intended to be humorous, which is read over the loudspeaker as the band scrambles into a formation which relates to the jokes in the script. During the football game, the band plays during offensive first downs and after any points are scored, and supplies various chants and songs.
Once football season is over, the DCMB remains active by acting as a pep band at hockey and basketball games, as well as by playing at various special events on campus such as Winter Carnival.
The band includes a kazoo section as well as a "liquid percussion" section, in which kegs and jugs are used as percussion instruments. Although many other scatter bands have similar percussion groups (such as Princeton's "Trash Percussion" section), the DCMB is the only band in the Ivy League to include a kazoo section. .
While the band does have official faculty representatives, the organization is primarily student-run. The President holds overarching power, the General Manager organizes on-campus and off-campus events, the Drum Major creates the formations and leads marching, and the Conductor picks songs to play and conducts the band. In addition, other members of the "Directorate" deal with equipment management, show writing, publicity, social life, supplying music, maintaining lists, and other various necessary tasks. Positions are filled with a mixture of election and appointment. By DCMB tradition, the Governor
Governor of Hawaii
The Governor of Hawaii is the chief executive of the state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state...
of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
is an ex officio member of directorate, and supreme authority rests with the Coke
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...
Machine. The coke machine in Morton Hall was elected to the directorate in November 1988 when Tor Blaisdell ran for president unopposed. Mr. Blaisdell was elected as president, while the Coke Machine became a member of the DCMB directorate.
The uniform consists of black pants, a white turtleneck shirt, and a green blazer for football games. As with other scatter bands
Scramble band
A scramble band - also known as a scatter band - is a particular type of field-performing marching band with distinct characteristics that set it apart from other common forms of marching bands; most notably, scramble bands do not normally march...
, this uniform was traditionally customarily accessorized with silly hats and buttons, but this has changed in recent years to a more professional look.. In the winter, these uniforms are traded in for rugby shirts striped in green and white.
The Dartmouth College Marching Band maintains itself as one of the most tradition-centric organizations on campus, and as a group on the forefront of student spirit. The band's goofy nature and non-traditional attire are characteristics shared with most other Ivy League bands. The band's motto, which distinguishes it from many student groups
Dartmouth College student groups
This page contains detailed information on a number of student groups at Dartmouth College. For more information on athletic teams, please see Dartmouth College athletic teams...
on campus for its non-Latin origin, is "The Band Always Wins!" and "Hey Band!-Hey What!"
As much a social organization as a musical group, members of the group participate in intramural sports, maintain an active e-mail discussion list, and hold various social events throughout the year. The e-mail list is known as the "Socialist," a name that reflects upon its addictively communal nature and combines the words "social" and "list."
Traditions and History
The band continues to play the old fight songs that have been played at football games for nearly a century. These songs include "Dartmouth's in Town Again," "Come Stand Up Men," "As the Backs Go Tearing By," and "Glory to Dartmouth" - collectively known as the "Dartmouth Tunes" or "DT's". The conclusion of each game is cause to play the Alma MaterMen of Dartmouth
The "Alma Mater" is the official school song of Dartmouth College, an Ivy League college located in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. Composed by Harry Wellman, class of 1907, it was officially adopted by the College in 1926. The difficult to sing "Dartmouth Undying"replaced it in the fall of...
, to which the football team and audience members sing, followed by an arrangement of Hey Baby from the "Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
" soundtrack. Before football games, the band marches to tailgate parties, as well as through Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
's Main Street for home games, playing "Louie, Louie" and the Dartmouth Tunes.
Every Dartmouth Night Weekend, the band doubles in size as alumni return wearing sweaters knitted by the Faculty Advisor's wife, and march with the band. Some alumni have come back for more than 50 homecomings. The band demonstrates its only fancy marching during the halftime show, as band members march directly into a "D" formation.
Each year, one away game is picked to be a three-day trip, during which time band members climb a skyscraper and sing Dartmouth songs on its top floor. Other yearly social events include a bowling trip, a potluck dinner for the freshmen, a scavenger hunt, a tradition-filled 'banquet' dinner, and others.
Song Repertoire
The song repertoire consists primarily of TV and movie theme music as well as some classic rock, though new additions are constantly being added by students. Some of the band's favorite songs include:- Dartmouth Tunes (DT's):
- Dartmouth's in Town Again
- Come Stand Up Men
- As the Backs Go Tearing By
- Glory to Dartmouth
- Men of DartmouthMen of DartmouthThe "Alma Mater" is the official school song of Dartmouth College, an Ivy League college located in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. Composed by Harry Wellman, class of 1907, it was officially adopted by the College in 1926. The difficult to sing "Dartmouth Undying"replaced it in the fall of...
("Alma Mater") - The VenturesThe VenturesThe Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
- Hawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,... - The Blues BrothersThe Blues BrothersThe Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live...
- Gimme Some Lovin'Gimme Some Lovin'"Gimme Some Loving" is a song written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood, and originally performed by The Spencer Davis Group. The basic riff of the song was borrowed from the Homer Banks song " A Lot of Love", written by Banks and Willie Dean "Deanie" Parker. The song was a UK #2 in...
(originally by The Spencer Davis Group) - Carlos SantanaCarlos SantanaCarlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
- Oye Como VaOye Como Va"Oye Como Va" is a song written by Latin jazz and mambo musician Tito Puente in 1963 and popularized by Santana's rendition of the song in 1970 on their album Abraxas, helping to catapult Santana into stardom with the song reaching #13 on the Billboard Top 100. The song also reached #11 on... - Bruce ChannelBruce ChannelBruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
- Hey! Baby (from "Dirty DancingDirty DancingDirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
") - Katrina and the WavesKatrina and the WavesKatrina and the Waves was an English pop rock band, best known for their 1985 hit "Walking on Sunshine" and their 1997 Eurovision Song Contest victory with the song "Love Shine a Light".-Pre-history: The Waves and Mama's Cookin' :...
- Walking on SunshineWalking on Sunshine (song)"Walking on Sunshine" is a song written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina and the Waves' 1983 eponymous debut full-length album. The re-recorded version was at first released on the band's 1985 self-titled album as the album's second single and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States,... - EuropeEurope (band)Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
- The Final CountdownThe Final Countdown (song)"The Final Countdown" is a rock song by the Swedish band Europe released in 1986. Written by Joey Tempest, it was the first single from the band's third studio album which was also named The Final Countdown. It is considered by some to be the band's most recognizable and popular song. The song...
(arranged by Meghan Fitzgerald '04) - Scott SchreerScott SchreerScott Schreer is an award-winning BMI composer and producer of theme songs for television programs, including NFL on Fox, NHL on Fox, MLB on Fox, NASCAR on Fox, Hope and Faith, The Cosby Show, and The O'Reilly Factor. As a musician and producer, he has garnered six Emmy nominations and has...
- Fox Football Theme (from NFL on FoxNFL on FOXNFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
) (arranged by Meghan Fitzgerald '04)