Dartmouth 1988
Dartmouth at Princeton
November 19th, 1988
Outcome Unknown
The Princeton University Band takes a long hard look at Music through the Ages. (Band wanders on to the field) In the beginning, there was only musical chaos. (Band plays random, awful music) Suddenly, something happened…something wonderful. (Drums go into the beginning of the theme from “2001,” Band plays opening strains. A giant black monolith is erected as two Band members in gorilla suits frolic.) But it didn’t last too long. (Band plays random music again) Music basically stagnated until the Middle Ages, and even then it didn’t do much. The Bubonic Plague put a damper on music from this period. After all, it’s tough to play a trombone when your lips have fallen off. The High Church also discouraged musical innovation. I mean, a Gregorian chant is fine, but you can’t exactly dance to it. In fact, the first victim of the Inquisition was a monk who said, “Dei Sub Numine Viget Wop Bop a lu Bob, A Lop Bam Boom!” Forming blue suede sandals on the field, the Band salutes Brother Richard the Little, that brave monk who led the charge against musical intolerance.
“Riding Music” (Band forms a pair of blue suede sandals)
We would now like to do a joke on the great European composers of the 18th century. But unfortunately, Mozart never wrote any Big Note E-Z-Play Songbooks. So it’s on to the 1920’s when jazz hit the musical scene, and stockbrokers hit the pavement. It was in this musical heyday that the Princeton University Band was formed. Moments later, Congress enacted Prohibition. Coincidence? You decide. Luckily, that same year, Augie Busch matriculated at Princeton and formed a speakeasy in the basement of Murray Dodge, and Princeton students were able to Charleston the 20’s away.
“Charleston” (Band forms a bottle)
America after the Depression was in deperate need of a musical hero. And who should step out of the gloom but that prince of pep, that Sultan of swing, Lawrence Welk. It was Welk who brought the magic of live accordian music to national television. He composed melodies that are still played today in some of the world’s finest elevators. To salute Lawrence Welk, without whom Muzak itself would be impossible, the Band plays his theme song, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” and asks the musical question, “Just who is Bubbles anyways?”
“I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” (Each section of the Band forms its own bubble, trash section blows bubbles)
Which brings us to the present, and that pinnacle of musical evolution, those ambassadors of high stepping sonic glory, the Princeton University Band. But we didn’t get this high without a little help from our friends. The Band would like to thank Chris VanSelous for keeping us together, Murt, Tom and Bob for cleaning us up, and who could forget Jack “My shoe’s on fire, Yow!” Hontz for putting up with us, plain and simple. And last but not least, our loyal fans who sit through three hours of Ivy League football each week just to catch our halftime show. It’s for you that the Band plays “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” by John Philip Sousa, just to prove we can do it.
“The Stars and Stripes Forever” (Band forms Princeton shield with fire extinguishers and a banner declaring “God went to Princeton”)
So there. On behalf of President Opie Cunningham, oops, I mean Mark Hiller, yea that’s it, Student Conductor Marc “Marble me, baby” Lemberg, and Drum Major Eliza “I’ve got rhythm… NOT” Kunkel, this is your announcer Polly Randall reminding you: Elvis is Alive.
November 19th, 1988
Outcome Unknown
The Princeton University Band takes a long hard look at Music through the Ages. (Band wanders on to the field) In the beginning, there was only musical chaos. (Band plays random, awful music) Suddenly, something happened…something wonderful. (Drums go into the beginning of the theme from “2001,” Band plays opening strains. A giant black monolith is erected as two Band members in gorilla suits frolic.) But it didn’t last too long. (Band plays random music again) Music basically stagnated until the Middle Ages, and even then it didn’t do much. The Bubonic Plague put a damper on music from this period. After all, it’s tough to play a trombone when your lips have fallen off. The High Church also discouraged musical innovation. I mean, a Gregorian chant is fine, but you can’t exactly dance to it. In fact, the first victim of the Inquisition was a monk who said, “Dei Sub Numine Viget Wop Bop a lu Bob, A Lop Bam Boom!” Forming blue suede sandals on the field, the Band salutes Brother Richard the Little, that brave monk who led the charge against musical intolerance.
“Riding Music” (Band forms a pair of blue suede sandals)
We would now like to do a joke on the great European composers of the 18th century. But unfortunately, Mozart never wrote any Big Note E-Z-Play Songbooks. So it’s on to the 1920’s when jazz hit the musical scene, and stockbrokers hit the pavement. It was in this musical heyday that the Princeton University Band was formed. Moments later, Congress enacted Prohibition. Coincidence? You decide. Luckily, that same year, Augie Busch matriculated at Princeton and formed a speakeasy in the basement of Murray Dodge, and Princeton students were able to Charleston the 20’s away.
“Charleston” (Band forms a bottle)
America after the Depression was in deperate need of a musical hero. And who should step out of the gloom but that prince of pep, that Sultan of swing, Lawrence Welk. It was Welk who brought the magic of live accordian music to national television. He composed melodies that are still played today in some of the world’s finest elevators. To salute Lawrence Welk, without whom Muzak itself would be impossible, the Band plays his theme song, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” and asks the musical question, “Just who is Bubbles anyways?”
“I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” (Each section of the Band forms its own bubble, trash section blows bubbles)
Which brings us to the present, and that pinnacle of musical evolution, those ambassadors of high stepping sonic glory, the Princeton University Band. But we didn’t get this high without a little help from our friends. The Band would like to thank Chris VanSelous for keeping us together, Murt, Tom and Bob for cleaning us up, and who could forget Jack “My shoe’s on fire, Yow!” Hontz for putting up with us, plain and simple. And last but not least, our loyal fans who sit through three hours of Ivy League football each week just to catch our halftime show. It’s for you that the Band plays “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” by John Philip Sousa, just to prove we can do it.
“The Stars and Stripes Forever” (Band forms Princeton shield with fire extinguishers and a banner declaring “God went to Princeton”)
So there. On behalf of President Opie Cunningham, oops, I mean Mark Hiller, yea that’s it, Student Conductor Marc “Marble me, baby” Lemberg, and Drum Major Eliza “I’ve got rhythm… NOT” Kunkel, this is your announcer Polly Randall reminding you: Elvis is Alive.
