THE BASS DRUM JOURNAL June 2016 of THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY B AND Vol. 96 No. 1 GAUDEAMUS IGITUR his past semester was the first time in nearly three years I Tstudied Latin. It fascinates me how much the language remains ingrained in our culture, from the contemporary use of notable one liners (carpe diem, veni vidi vici) to the mottos emblazoned on our currency and various university crests, to Harvard’s anachronistic inclusion of a Latin oration at Commencement. Our fight song even features a Latin verse (or two). For a dead language, it seems that Latin is making the most of the afterlife. THE BAND PLAYING AT HARVARD’S ARTS FIRST FESTIVAL THIS PAST MAY I admit I took illegitimum non carborundum as real Latin when I was spread good cheer and merriment throughout It never ceases to amaze me just how first taught the phrase. Quite Boston. And we continue to make progress involved with the Band our alumni literally, it would translate on our tour so that next summer, we’ll being are. Please remember that our door is as “not fit to be ground taking the West Coast by storm. always open to you. by the illegitimate”, Therefore, let us rejoice in the exciting It’s hard to believe my first which follows the general and the new. No organization makes it to semester in this role has come to an meaning of the vocative 97 years without being able to adapt and end. Paul, Gianina, Mattie, Paul, and “don’t let the bastards grind grow. Thanks to a concentrated effort by Joe deserve an enormous amount you down”. I felt quite some very dedicated Bandies, we’ve of gratitude for all the amazing foolish when finally brought our website into the work they’ve done to make this I learned that 21st century, and are very excited to year go smoothly. It has been an carborundum is share the new and improved www. incredible experience so far, leading in fact not only harvardband.org with you all! this organization with Greg, Elena, not a gerundive, ANDY LI Therefore, let us rejoice, in the Maryrose and Jonathon, and I am eager but not even a real Manager commitment of all our members, each to meet the challenges and opportunities word, but I’ve since of whom brings something special to that will present themselves to us going grown quite fond of it. This is just a this organization. We would not be who we forward. small example of my attachment to are without the involvement of our dedicated It is truly an honor to serve this this organization, and I believe we all alumni, and we deeply appreciate your support organization, and I cannot wait what have our own stories and memories and contributions. Our Director Emeritus, the fall season has in store for us all. that give the Band a special place in Tom Everett, was honored this year at our hearts. This is a remarkable group, Commencement with the Harvard Medal for Gaudeamus igitur. one that has stood the test of time and “extraordinary service to Harvard University”. ILLEGITIMUM NON CARBORUNDUM, continues to thrive at a place where Our newest class of Bandies has reinvigorated doing something out of pure enjoyment both our sound and our spirits with their passion is so rare. If I had to describe what it’s and enthusiasm. like to be in the Band, I often come One group I would like to single back to a segment of our latin verse of out personally as deserving of my deepest Ten Thousand Men: Gaudeamus igitur, gratitude is our newest group of Crusties, therefore let us rejoice. the Class of 2016. Next year will be very Therefore, let us rejoice, in the different without you around, since I’ve only AndyAndy LiLi’17 is currently serving as the Band’s Manager for 2015-2016. He is an opportunities we have to share our really known Band with you as a part of it. music and represent ourselves and Economics concentrator from Columbus, As you move on from Harvard, I wish you OH. our school. This past year, another the best of luck with your future endeavors. successful football campaign was Thank you for everything you have done for NSIDE followed by a strong postseason run this organization. We’re all going to miss you I ... by a number of winter teams, capped a great deal, and I hope we’ll see you back at Turn and Face ... 2 by a spring break trip across New York some games this fall. A Tale of Two Seasons ... 3 to cheer on women’s basketball in the I hope all of our Crusties feel welcome NIT and men’s hockey in the ECAC and All the Way Up... 4 to come by 74 Mt. Auburn, whether it’s to play Prof. Schneider... 5 NCAA tournaments. We head into next at a game or just to pay a visit. It’s always a joy season with a 10th consecutive victory to hear the stories and perspectives you have Harvard Band ... 6 against yAle in sight. Our caroling and to share, and we hope you continue to feel Student Awards... 6 Duckling Day performances each year involved with the Band even after graduation. Conductor’s Corner... 7 Check out our website for a digital copy of the Bass Drum Journal and band updates! www.harvardband.org TURN AND FACE THE STRANGE t was a whirlwind of a year for the Band as we cheered Harvard Athletics onward to victory. We followed the men’s basketball team for another big Harvard-yAle Game, an intense Ivy League playoff game at the Penn Palestra between I us and old Eli, and then went on to sunny Jacksonville, Florida after the team secured a place in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. And at the end of it all, we witnessed our football team tackle their way to our ninth consecutive victory over those bulldogs down at yAle. We even put on a show or two or eight: vs. Brown (W 53-27) well-endowed school. We’ll be happy In the Band’s season opener, we as a Society of Friends with Benefits, welcomed our new Director, Mark E. and paid tribute to them by forming “PEN ‘15” on the field. A pun time was Olson, then quickly turned our attention add photo to politics. Since she’s a big, red had by all. Washington outsider who marches to her own beat, Bertha the Bass Drum is the @ yAle (W 31-24) Band’s endorsement for the Republican We compared the efforts of the men’s nomination. We tried getting Donald football teams this season to the Trump aboard the Bertha bandwagon, IAN MACGIllIVRAY GIVES GIANINA THE Herculean labors in a truly epic halftime but since he tends to slur his speeches SIGNATURE GINGER ALE SHOWER TO INITIATE show. After wrecking the Big Red, HER AS DRILL MASTER. we also extended a hand of friendship slaying the Lafayette Leopard, pelting to Deez Nuts. We know one thing for that Barbash-as-Leonard-Bernstein the Columbia Lion, bearing down on sure: Bertha’s shape already makes her descended out of all those years ago the Brown Bear, dodging Georgetown’s a perfect fit for the Oval Office. in the now-famous prank. Natasha and dogs, pouncing on the Princeton Tiger, Boris were foiled yet again. and taking Dartmouth’s Keg down a vs. Georgetown (W 53-27) Peg, we decapitated the most fearsome To celebrate the International Day of vs. Dartmouth (W 14-13) of beasts: Handsome Dan, the ferocious Nonviolence, we honored the stateside “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far three-headed bulldog who guards the travels of the roamin’ Roman Bishop, away, a disturbance in the Force caused gates to New Haven and keeps the souls Pope Francis. The biggest Christian the Band much dismay,” began our Star of unfortunate yAlies in. At the end of “rock” icon since St. Peter dropped a Wars themed halftime performance. the show, our bulldog’s heads rolled new mixtape - this is real, folks - that’s The evil at the center of it all? Darth through the student section, ending our being hail-Maryed as a cross-genre hit. Mouth, the evil Dark Sith Lord who show season on a high, anti-Eli note. I The Pope should consider collaborating had mobilized an army of droids owe much thanks for a season packed with the Band. With all this running in the wilderness of Hanover, with laughter and joy to my friends around on the field, we’re pretty good New Hampshire. Our StudCon, and fellow Senior Staff members, Paul at taking cardinal direction. aided by Obi-John Harvard, M., Mattie, Paul S., and Joe. This fall’s President Drewbacca, and Dean shows would have not been possible if @ Cornell (W 40-3) Khuran Solo, prevailed over not for the valiant efforts of Prop Crew This week’s space-themed Mouth in an epic battle Manager Alex Cox, who made the show was outta this of lightsaber vs. baton. props stunning and kept me well-fed, world! When the Band left and Yuki Koide, my spunky Assistant Cambridge for our journey @ Columbia (W 24-16) Drill Master who charted formations to to Ithaca, we thought we The Columbia (what?) perfection and with abandon. programmed “The Big Red” Columbia (no.) show into our GPS. Instead, we was co-written by the Taking on (and rocking!) the trench coat ended up far, far away Drill Master candidates, and was a life-changing experience, and it from home at a big, put an absurdist spin on the seems as if my time on Staff has passed red place: Mars.