Boston College Marching Band
Encyclopedia
The Boston College Marching Band, also known as the "Screaming Eagles" Marching Band or BCMB, is the marching band
for the Boston College Eagles
. Founded in 1919, The Band is the largest and most visible student organization at Boston College
. The Band represents the school at home football games, most bowl games, international events, and parades.
. Professional section instructors and student leaders oversee and facilitate all rehearsals and performances. While audition
s are not required for instrumentalists, they are required for visual team members and are also required for the positions of assistant conductor as well as Drum Major.
While most members of the BCMB are students of Boston College, the Band also has a partner-school program. The program incorporates a wide variety of students from Boston based institutions. Prominent schools include Berklee College of Music
, Emerson College
, Emmanuel College, Northeastern University, Simmons College
, Suffolk University
, and Wentworth Institute of Technology
. All Boston area college students can join the Band.
The Band performs two different half-time shows a year, in the drum and bugle corps
style of marching. These half-time shows, which are 6 minutes in length, usually consist of 30-40 sets. The Band also performs in the stands during the game, electrifying the fans with a wide repertoire of music.
, Clemson University
. Postseason travel has taken the Band to Jacksonville, Florida for the ACC Championship Game
, Orlando, Florida for the Champs Sports Bowl
, Dublin, Ireland for the Emerald Isle Classic and the Yokohama Bowl in Yokohama, Japan.
In the 2010 and 2011 season, The Band traveled to Canada to perform a pre-game and halftime routine for the Montreal Alouettes
.
Three hours before kickoff, the Boston College Marching Band parades through Lower Campus and leads the football team into Alumni Stadium
. Afterward, The Band performs a short concert on the steps of Silvio O. Conte Forum
.
Before the football game starts, the Marching Band performs "The Pre-Game Show." Pre-Game starts with a High-Brass Fanfare, performed by the Trumpets and Mellophones. The Band then prances out onto the field and performs a series of BC fight songs. First, the Band performs "Sons of Maroon and Gold", and "All Up For Boston,". The Band then salutes the opposing team by playing their fight song. The Band then proudly performs the nation's oldest fight song "For Boston
.". During "For Boston," the Band forms the letters "BC" on the field, and during the final phrases, "italicizes" the letters to match the school's logo.
In the stands, the Band also plays a variety of music. After every first down, the Band plays a short, 4-bar fanfare similar to "For Boston
," the school's fight song. The Band also plays numerous cheers, such as "E-A-G-L-E-S," and "Booty Drop". Some songs the Band played during the 2010-11 season were:
The Band also performs versions of Neil Diamond
's Sweet Caroline
and The Foundations
' Build Me Up Buttercup
, both of which have become traditions at Boston College
.
Additionally, the band has performed the national anthem at Fenway Park
and on June 16, 2009 a group from the band opened up for Aerosmith
along side the Dropkick Murphys
at the Comcast Center in Mansfield MA.
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...
for the Boston College Eagles
Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams representing Boston College. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East. The women's crew team competes in the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing...
. Founded in 1919, The Band is the largest and most visible student organization at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. The Band represents the school at home football games, most bowl games, international events, and parades.
The Band
The Boston College Marching Band has over 180 members and is under the direction of David Healey. The Band consists of the following sections: high brass, low brass, woodwinds, battery, front ensemble, dance team, and color guardColor guard
In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag...
. Professional section instructors and student leaders oversee and facilitate all rehearsals and performances. While audition
Audition
An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performing artist.Audition may also refer to:* The sense of hearing* Adobe Audition, audio editing software...
s are not required for instrumentalists, they are required for visual team members and are also required for the positions of assistant conductor as well as Drum Major.
While most members of the BCMB are students of Boston College, the Band also has a partner-school program. The program incorporates a wide variety of students from Boston based institutions. Prominent schools include Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
, Emmanuel College, Northeastern University, Simmons College
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
, Suffolk University
Suffolk University
Suffolk University is a private, non-sectarian, university located in Boston, Massachusetts and with over 16,000 students it is the third largest university in Boston...
, and Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
The Wentworth Institute of Technology is an independent, co-educational, technical design and engineering college located in Boston, Massachusetts...
. All Boston area college students can join the Band.
The Band performs two different half-time shows a year, in the drum and bugle corps
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
style of marching. These half-time shows, which are 6 minutes in length, usually consist of 30-40 sets. The Band also performs in the stands during the game, electrifying the fans with a wide repertoire of music.
Music and performances
The Band performs at every home football game. Additionally, the Band has played at parades in the Boston area and travels to away games each season, except for the 2009 season (see below). Regular season destinations included the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. Postseason travel has taken the Band to Jacksonville, Florida for the ACC Championship Game
ACC Championship Game
The Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game is an American college football game held on the first Saturday in December by the Atlantic Coast Conference each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Coastal Division against the champion of the Atlantic Division in a game...
, Orlando, Florida for the Champs Sports Bowl
Champs Sports Bowl
The Champs Sports Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at the Citrus Bowl. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Capital One Bowl and Florida Classic...
, Dublin, Ireland for the Emerald Isle Classic and the Yokohama Bowl in Yokohama, Japan.
In the 2010 and 2011 season, The Band traveled to Canada to perform a pre-game and halftime routine for the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
.
Three hours before kickoff, the Boston College Marching Band parades through Lower Campus and leads the football team into Alumni Stadium
Alumni Stadium
Alumni Stadium is a football stadium located on the campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, approximately sixmiles west of downtown Boston. The stadium lies within the city limits of Boston, although its postal address is Chestnut Hill. It is the home of the Boston College Eagles...
. Afterward, The Band performs a short concert on the steps of Silvio O. Conte Forum
Conte Forum
The Silvio O. Conte Forum, commonly known as Conte Forum, Kelley Rink , or simply Conte, is an 8,606-seat multi-purpose arena which opened in 1988 on the campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts that lies within the Brighton neighborhood of Boston...
.
Before the football game starts, the Marching Band performs "The Pre-Game Show." Pre-Game starts with a High-Brass Fanfare, performed by the Trumpets and Mellophones. The Band then prances out onto the field and performs a series of BC fight songs. First, the Band performs "Sons of Maroon and Gold", and "All Up For Boston,". The Band then salutes the opposing team by playing their fight song. The Band then proudly performs the nation's oldest fight song "For Boston
For Boston
"For Boston" is the traditional fight song of Boston College. It was written and composed by T.J. Hurley, a member of the Boston College Class of 1885. It is known as the oldest fight song in the United States...
.". During "For Boston," the Band forms the letters "BC" on the field, and during the final phrases, "italicizes" the letters to match the school's logo.
In the stands, the Band also plays a variety of music. After every first down, the Band plays a short, 4-bar fanfare similar to "For Boston
For Boston
"For Boston" is the traditional fight song of Boston College. It was written and composed by T.J. Hurley, a member of the Boston College Class of 1885. It is known as the oldest fight song in the United States...
," the school's fight song. The Band also plays numerous cheers, such as "E-A-G-L-E-S," and "Booty Drop". Some songs the Band played during the 2010-11 season were:
- Mars, Bringer of War by Gustav HolstGustav HolstGustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
- O FortunaO Fortuna"O Fortuna" is a medieval Latin Goliardic poem written early in the thirteenth century, part of the collection known as the Carmina Burana. It is a complaint about fate, and Fortuna, a goddess in Roman mythology and personification of luck....
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by Enrique IglesiasEnrique IglesiasEnrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa... - Ants MarchingAnts Marching"Ants Marching" is a song by the Dave Matthews Band, released as the second single from their 1994 album Under the Table and Dreaming. It reached #18 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and received some album-oriented rock play as well. A different recording of it was included on their prior album,...
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by MainoMainoMaino is an American rapper from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York.-Early life:... - DownDown (Jay Sean song)"Down" is an R&B-electropop song by British artist Jay Sean. The song was released in North America as his debut single from his first album there, All or Nothing. In other markets, including the UK, the song serves as Jay Sean's lead single from his third studio album. The single features American...
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- Everytime We TouchEverytime We Touch (Cascada song)"Everytime We Touch" is the debut single by German dance act Cascada, which borrows the chorus from Maggie Reilly's song of the same name. The song was produced by Manuel Reuter and Yann Pfeiffer. It was a worldwide dance-hit in early 2006...
by CascadaCascadaCascada is a German Eurodance act most famous for their hit singles "Everytime We Touch", "What Hurts the Most", and "Evacuate the Dancefloor"... - Don't Stop Believin'Don't Stop Believin'"Don't Stop Believin is a popular song by the American rock band Journey, originally released as a single from their 1981 album Escape, which became a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 on its original release. It re-entered the UK Singles Chart in 2009 as a result of increased prominence of digital...
by JourneyJourney (band)Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded... - Living on a Prayer by Bon JoviBon JoviBon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
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by The Dropkick Murphys - Party Like a RockstarParty Like a Rockstar"Party Like a Rockstar" is a rap song recorded by Shop Boyz. It was released as the first single from their debut album Rockstar Mentality . It reached high success during summer 2007 and was successful in the United States, peaking in the top five on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap...
by The Shop Boys - 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...
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by Ozzy Ozbourne
The Band also performs versions of Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
's Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline
"Sweet Caroline" is a pop song written and performed by Neil Diamond and officially released on September 16, 1969, as a single. It was later released on December 9, 1972 as a part of Diamond's Hot August Night album. There are three distinct mixes of this song...
and The Foundations
The Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
' Build Me Up Buttercup
Build Me Up Buttercup
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
, both of which have become traditions at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
.
Additionally, the band has performed the national anthem at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
and on June 16, 2009 a group from the band opened up for Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
along side the Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
at the Comcast Center in Mansfield MA.
External links
- http://www.bc.edu/jointheband