From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia University of Minnesota Marching Band
University of Minnesota Marching Band
Minnesota Marching Band
School University of Minnesota
Location Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
The University of Minnesota Marching Band was founded in
Conference Big Ten 1892 as the University Cadet Band.
Founded 1892
at which the band would be the sole performers, instead
Director Tim Diem
of taking a role secondary to that of the football team.
Assistant Alicia Neal This was the first concert of its kind; many other collegi-
director ate marching bands have adopted this practice since. The
Members 315
Indoor Concert has been continuously performed at the
University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium since its
Fight song Minnesota Rouser creation.
Uniform Maroon pants and jacket, white and gold
overlays, gold wings, white hats, gloves and Women in the Band
spats, black shoes
When it was originally formed, the band consisted of ex-
Website https://music.umn.edu/ensembles/ clusively males. Women were first allowed to perform
marching with the band in 1943-1945, when they were allowed to
"fill in" for male members of the band that were serving
The University of Minnesota Marching Band (also known in World War II. In 1950, a "Women’s division" of the
as UMMB The Pride of Minnesota[1]) is the marching
UMMB, band was created, which lasted for several years. Women
band of the University of Minnesota. The band performs were finally allowed to be full members of the band in
before, during, and after all home Golden Gopher football 1972. Molly Watters was selected in 2006 as the first fe-
games and bowl games, numerous pepfests[2] and events male Drum Major in the history of the band.
associated with the University of Minnesota, as well as a
series of indoor concerts at the end of the regular football
season[2]. Members of the band also participate in small-
Marching Style
er athletic pep bands that perform at other major sport-
ing events.[3]
History
The Minnesota Marching Band was formed with 29 mem-
bers as the University Cadet Band in 1892.
The band performed its first field show in 1910.
Among the formations included was the "Block M" that
now serves as the University’s logo. The "Block M" for-
mation is still present in the band’s pregame show.
In 1961, marching band director Dr. Frank Ben- The marching band practices in El Paso, Texas before the 1999
Sun Bowl.
criscutto decided that, in addition to performing at foot-
ball games, the band should also put on an indoor concert
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia University of Minnesota Marching Band
The Minnesota Marching Band primarily uses the tra- • Rotate the "Block M" formation toward the student
ditional "chair step" for performances, similar to other section.
bands of the Big Ten Conference. The band’s pregame • March the "Block M" downfield while playing "Our
show is performed almost entirely with this step. It con- Minnesota"
sists of bringing the leg up so that the thigh is parallel to • Cadence into the "Gauntlet" formation. A shortened
the ground and the shin is completely vertical and toes version of the Rouser is played while the football
are pointed at the ground. team runs onto the field.
Parade marching is performed using a modified chair • Play a modified version of the theme from
step known as "parade chair," which is far less tiring than "Superman" while Goldy Gopher runs onto the field.
a traditional chair step. It is similar to the chair step, but • Play the "Rouser" as the football team runs onto the
the thigh only comes up 45 degrees instead of the full 90. field.
Halftime shows are performed using a corps-style low • Play the "Star Spangled Banner" from this block. The
step marching that allows for more musicality and forms B.A.R.F. (Big American Representational Flag) is
that do not necessarily conform to a grid. unrolled during the National Anthem.
"Run-Cadence" is the band’s method of getting on • Run-Cadence off of the field.
and off the field for a show. It is essentially a double-time
chair step, although the quickness of it necessitates that
at times neither foot is in contact with the ground, as
References
with the regular chair step. [1] "Minnesota Marching Band". University of
Minnesota Music Department.
http://www.music.umn.edu/marchingband/.
Pregame Show Retrieved 2007-10-12.
The Minnesota Marching band performs one of the [2] ^ "2007 Schedule". University of Minnesota Music
longest and most complex pregame shows of any band Department. http://www.music.umn.edu/
in the country. In its entirety, it is over 15 minutes long marchingband/newsinfo/schedule2007.html.
and includes over 75 pages of drill. Periodically through- [3] "Athletic Pep Bands". University of Minnesota
out the season, band members audition for a spot in the Music Department. http://www.music.umn.edu/
pregame block. There are 243 marching spots in the marchingband/pepband/index.html.
pregame block. • http://www.music.umn.edu/marchingband/
The pregame show in its current configuration con- history/index.html
sists of the following: • http://www.music.umn.edu/marchingband/
• Run-Cadence on to the field in entry lines. history/drummajors.html
• Expand the lines into a block formation to "Fanfare
’87"
• March down the field to John Philip Sousa’s
External links
"Minnesota March" • Official Site
• Spell out "GOPHERS" while playing "Go Gopher • Alto Saxophone Section
Victory" • Tenor Saxophone Section
• Play the opposing team’s school song. This is • Trumpets Section
removed if the opposing school sends a band with • Mellophone Section
the team. (Big Ten Opponents only) • Trombone Section
• Play "Battle Hymn of the Republic" while performing • Baritone Section
the "Swinging Gates" formation. • Tuba Section
• "Cascade" into the compressed "Block M" formation. • Drumline
• Expand into the "Block M" formation while playing • Flagline
"Fanfare ’78-Pageant"
• Play the "Rouser."
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/in-
dex.php?title=University_of_Minnesota_Marching_Band&oldid=462848450"
Categories:
• University of Minnesota
• American college songs
• College marching bands in the United States
• Musical groups established in 1892
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia University of Minnesota Marching Band
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