The West Point Graduation March

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It is hard to describe the traditional depth of the West Point Graduation March. It is a collection of old Army and popular tunes that have lasted for nearly the entire age of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The seven songs that are represented in the march are: “Home! Sweet Home!,” 1823; “100 Days ’til June,” 1938; “Dashing White Sergeant,” 1826; “Wedding March,” 1842; “The Girl I left Behind Me,” 1810; Field Music Bugle Strain and Drum Cadence, unknown but likely 1938; and “Auld Lang Syne,” 1788.

It was Lt. Philip Egner (Bandmaster of the West Point Band from 1909 to 1934) that compiled this collection at first. He probably wished to add in the latest marches of the era to the graduation parade, so he compiled all of the old songs into one piece. In 1938, Lt. Col. Francis Resta (Bandmaster 1934-1957), added in his 100th Night Show overture song entitled “100 Days ’til June.” This version of West Point Graduation March is performed today.

So, if you really look at dates of the songs, nearly every graduate from West Point since 1802 has heard songs from this march. The one song that glues the entire Long Gray Line is “Auld Lang Syne,” dating to 1788. When Robert Burns penned the poem for “Auld Lang Syne,” it was set to a melody that was already ancient, holding the traditional folk song number #6294 of the Roud Folk Song Index. “Auld Lang Syne” is known best to celebrate the New Year at the stroke of midnight, but it is also sung at funerals, graduations, and as a farewell or ending to other occasions.

The West Point Band marching in the 2014 Graduation Parade

West Point Graduation March serves a military function that is unmatched when comparing it to other old West Point songs. It is the march performed during the “Sound-off” sequence at the Graduation Parade. Again, nearly every single graduating Cadet has had to stand at parade rest while the band performs this march, trooping the line in front of the U.S. Corps of Cadets.

The scenario is this: the U.S. Corps of Cadets march onto The Plain, and the firsties (aka seniors) march on for the last time of their cadet career. All of the formation is called to parade rest. The adjutant yells, “Sound-off!” The announcer then reads:

“THIS MARCH ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE LINE IS SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED WITH THE CRUSADES. THE TROOPS OFFERING THEMSELVES FOR SERVICE WERE DRAWN UP IN A LONG FORMATION AND THE BAND COUNTERMARCHED ONLY BEFORE THOSE CHOSEN TO SERVE.”  

The drum major brings instruments up and starts the slow first phrase of “Home! Sweet, Home!” The band then plays a rousing introduction to Lt. Col. Francis Resta’s 1938 100^th Night Show opener “100 Days ’til June.” The band promptly steps off to march in front of the Corps of Cadets and on display for all of the parents and friends visiting West Point to see graduation events. The medley proceeds with “Dashing White Sergeant,” Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” and “The Girl I Left Behind Me.” As the band nears the end of the Corps, the drum major gives a counter-column signal to turn the band around. Here the field music group, the Hellcats, performs an original bugle strain and the drums continue as the band completes the counter-column. Once the counter-column is completed, the drum major gives a sharp “forward march” with the mace, and the band steps off in full step to “Auld Lang Syne.” The band proceeds to march back to its original position on the field. This march completes with the full-strain of “Home! Sweet, Home!” to finish the sound-off sequence.

Here are some historical tidbits on each song in the West Point Graduation March.

West Point Graduation March – The 1938 version compilation is by 1^st Lt. Philip Egner and Lt. Col. Francis E. Resta, both Bandmasters and Teachers of Music at West Point

“Home! Sweet Home!” (1823) by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop, Lyrics by John Howard Payne – This song was reputedly banned from being played in Union Army camps during the American Civil War for being too redolent of hearth and home so as likely to incite desertion.

“100 Days ’til June” (1938) by Lt. Col. Francis E. Resta, West Point Bandmaster and Teacher of Music – This song served as the overture to the 100^th Night Show in 1938. The show marks 100 days prior to graduation and encompasses the firstie (senior) class’ experience of cadet life at West Point. This song remains as a traditional work performed on modern 100^th night shows. West Point graduations used to be held in June, but now graduations occur at the end of May.

“Dashing White Sergeant” (1826) Melody by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop, Words by British General John Burgoyne – In the U.S., the same song was as well-known during the Mexican War as “The Female Volunteer for Mexico.”

“Wedding March” (1842) by Felix Mendelssohn – West Point Cadets are not allowed to be married while attending the Academy. After West Point graduation, a flood of weddings occur on and off post.

“The Girl I Left Behind Me” (1810) – 1810 is the earliest known version of this melody. U.S. Army Soldiers adopted it after hearing a British prisoner singing the song during the War of 1812. The song was used by the Army as a marching tune throughout the 19^th century.

Field Music Bugle Strain and Drum Cadence – The Hellcats perform, allowing the marching band and Hellcats to counter-march before those chosen to serve.

“Auld Lang Syne” (1788) – In 1788, Robert Burns penned this well-known poem and it was set to the melody of a traditional folk song known as #6294 of the Roud Folk Song Index. The traditional use of this song is to celebrate the New Year at the stroke of midnight. It is also sung at funerals, graduations, and as a farewell or ending to other occasions.

“Home! Sweet Home!” – The Marching Band returns to its original position on the field to play the full version of “Home! Sweet Home!”

The hat toss at the graduation of the West Point Class of 2012

The West Point Graduation Ceremony receives the most media attention of all graduation events as usually a prominent guest speaker comes to speak. The words the graduating class always cherishes come from the Cadet First Captain at the end of the ceremony: “Graduating Class, Dismissed!” Here, the class throws their hats in the air for a young child to catch or pick up as a souvenir. The West Point Band marks this moment by performing the West Point Graduation March.

Words by Sgt. Maj. Christopher D. Jones

The Pass in Review

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If you’ve ever heard a West Point Band member (or anyone else affiliated with West Point) mention a “parade” on the plain or a “review,” these terms are synonymous with the “pass in review.” The pass in review is a long standing military tradition dating back to when Baron Von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge and reported to Washington during the American Revolution in 1778. Von Steuben’s training technique was to create a “model company” and one of the ways he did this was through drill and ceremony, which is still being used to this day. It is of interesting note that when he arrived, he spoke very little English (he is of German decent) and he would often order his translator to swear at his men for him in English. Upon his arrival to Valley Forge, the men were anything but a model company; that is to say until Von Steuben was through with them. He developed what is known as Regulations for the Orders and Discipline of the Troops of the United States of America, also known as the “Blue Book.” The West Point Band and Hellcats are an integral and essential part of this long standing military tradition.

Here at West Point, the pass in review happens before each home football game as well as various other times throughout the year such as graduation week and for alumni exercises and the annual Thayer Awards Review. The pass in review consists of several companies of cadets marching past a reviewing party for inspection purposes. On the command of “eyes right,” the cadets turn their head and eyes towards the ranking officer as they pass the reviewing party. This officer is usually the Superintendent of West Point.

For the West Point Band, the pass in review begins in our rehearsal hall about an hour and a half before the start time. It is there that we go over the sequence of music to be played and rehearse any marches that may be unfamiliar or new. The next step is a quick change into whatever uniform is to be worn. This could either be full dress blue, full dress blue over white, or the sierra uniform. (For more specific information on these uniforms, look for a separate blog post detailing our different unique military uniforms.) The band forms up in the parking lot of the band building before marching at a “route step” up to the parade field, or as it is formally known, “the Plain.”

Upon arrival to the Plain, we make our way down diagonal walk (photograph below), marching to the ceremonious sounds of the Hellcats and a simultaneous narrative about the history of what will be observed in the review.

The band marches towards the plain.

After arriving at our position on the Plain, the Hellcats join our formation, which is usually a six-person front. It is from here that the Hellcat buglers sound Attention, which alerts the cadets in the sally ports of Washington Hall that the march-on is about to begin. The march-on consists of one to two marches (depending on the size of the participating cadet brigade) which send the cadets pouring out of the sally ports in company formations as they move to their positions on the field.

All formed up and ready to go.

Once the corps of cadets have gone through a series of “order arms” to “present arms” and back to “order arms” to pay military curtesy to both the Cadet Captain and his/her staff and the reviewing party (usually consisitng of the USMA Superintendent and other West Point leaders), it is now time for the West Point Band to perform honors. This consists of the Generals March right into the United States National Anthem. At the conclusion of honors, the Superintendant utters the words “pass in review” to signal the start of the review portion.

Cadets on the plain during a review.

Carrying our nation’s colors.

After a quick reposition by the West Point Band and Hellcats, the command of “right turrrrrrn” is heard from the corps of cadets followed by the West Point Band drum major’s command of “forwarrrrrrd,” which is then followed by “maaaaaarch” from within the corps. This signals the downbeat and stepoff for the band, as they lead the corps in groups of companies past the reviewing stand. Once past the reviewing party, the band does a series of three left turns to position themselves facing the reviewing party. They remain there at the position of “attention” as they play the remainder of the companies past the reviewing party to the command of “eyes right.” Once past the reviewing party, each company is dismissed and continues marching back to the sally ports of Washington Hall, from where they came.

A parade review in action.

After the last company has marched past, there is an announcement for the playing of the Army Song, The Army Goes Rolling Along, as the crowd stands and sings along. Upon completion of the Army Song, the West Point Band steps off and is also dismissed, exiting the plain and marching past the Superintendent’s house. The Hellcats remain behind to march off the residual companies who are still exiting the parade field toward Washington Hall. This signals the end of the review.

If you have never seen one, I suggest you go to at least one. It is a cool sight to see, and it’s one of the many important types of performances that we do here in the West Point Band.

Words by Staff Sgt. Dave Loy Song

Images by Staff Sgt. Chrissy Rivers

Graduation Week Wrap-Up

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Army, army band, band, Classical Music, concert band, marches, marching band, military band, Music, sousa, trombone, veterans, West Point, west point graduation, wind ensemble, work

The West Point Band marches the Graduation Parade. Photo by Staff Sgt. Mikki Skinner

This year’s graduation week was a memorable one for the West Point Band. Graduation week is possibly the most important time of year for us, and each one is memorable in its own way. Grad week 2013 was most memorable for the weather. It was extremely rainy and unseasonably cold for both the graduation parade and the graduation and commissioning ceremony. It was so rainy for the graduation parade, that our drum major made the decision to do the parade without woodwinds. Woodwind instruments don’t work very well in the rain, and even more importantly, need to be serviced by our repairman before they can be played again. With so many jobs back to back, it is not an option to have the woodwind instruments out of commission for a couple of days while they are all serviced.

The West Point Band during the “Sound Off” sequence. Photo by Staff Sgt. Mikki Skinner

The weather for the graduation and commissioning ceremony was a real shocker for the band. Usually we expect to show up at Michie Stadium very early in the morning while it is still cold outside. By the time the ceremony is over, it is usually quite hot. In fact, last year it was in the 90s and very muggy. Several attendees had to be taken from the stadium with heat related injuries. This year it was in the upper 40s and raining off and on through the entire ceremony. It is not often that I find myself digging out long underwear and warm dress gloves for events in late May, but this was certainly a day where I did.

The ceremony itself was a tremendous success. The band was well rehearsed, and had a well thought out plan to deal with our printed music in the rain. Usually we would use music stands and a pre-made book of music. Those books are not water-resistant in any way, and would have been useless after being in the rain. The band all played using marching lyres and flip-folders, which encase the music in plastic sleeves. It is not a totally waterproof solution, but much more effective than nothing at all.

The band, our equipment, the graduates, and their friends and family all got wet. But, the elation on the faces of the graduates was truly heartwarming. If you would like to see more photos of the band in action during graduation week, check out our flickr site.

Words by Sgt. 1st Class Sam Kaestner
Images by Sgt. 1st Class Willie Calohan, and Staff Sergeants Chrissy Clark and Mikki Skinner

The Graduation Parade

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Army, army band, band, Classical Music, concert band, graduation, marches, marching band, military band, Music, parade, review, sousa, trombone, veterans, West Point, west point graduation, wind ensemble, work

Around this time eight years ago, several of my colleagues asked if I was ready for my first graduation week. They did so with a smirk, like they knew something I didn’t. I assured them I would be just fine. After all, I was familiar with music’s role for a university graduation. At Indiana, the band had a brief rehearsal before playing a few tunes for the brief ceremony. No big deal. I assumed West Point was no different. My first graduation week at the academy culminated in my playing Hail to the Chief for the President of the United States, who was about 20 yards away. I realized graduation at West Point was different.

So yes, this week at West Point is a big deal. It’s not only playing for heads of state—the band is involved in parade reviews, chamber performances, award ceremonies, banquets, and a formal dance. It’s a demanding week for us. My esteemed colleague Sam wrote about the effort he puts forth keeping his chops in shape. I can empathize. In fact, there’s a myriad of challenges the week brings a musician. Since there are only so many hours in the day, I’ll just write about one: the graduation parade.

The West Point Band performs a “Sound Off” in the 2012 graduation parade.

Parades by nature are difficult. At West Point there is a high standard of playing and a high standard of marching. We do both at the same time. What makes the graduation parade more daunting? For one, it’s lengthy. By the end of the parade, I’m gassed. So there’s the endurance issue. It’s also high profile (duh), so there’s a bit of added pressure. For me, the biggest challenge is the Graduation March.

Graduation March is one of two pieces we play as we march across the West Point plain in front of high-ranking officers and thousands in attendance. It’s a medley of tunes, many specific to West Point, skillfully arranged together and performed every year during graduation week. It’s a difficult piece played sitting down. (It’s particularly demanding for the trumpet section. They remind me of this often, just in case I forgot.) When marching is added to the equation, it’s nearly impossible. Additionally, the band does fancy moves like counter-columns (look them up, they’re really cool) and right-turns (no move in marching terrifies me more than a right turn.) This year, I memorized the tune. This allows me to focus more on my steps while still playing the difficult, yet rewarding, Graduation March. I hope the extra work is worth it, because when done well, the graduation parade is nothing short of spectacular.

Even though it’s demanding, the graduation parade is my favorite of the year. There are no words to describe playing in front of a standing-room crowd surrounding the West Point plain. In addition to the energy of the audience, I am motivated by what the parade represents: the final parade review at West Point for the graduating cadets. My colleagues and I are honored to play a significant role at such a meaningful event.

Words by Staff Sgt. Phil Stehly
Images by Staff Sgt. Mikki Skinner and Staff Sgt. Chrissy Clark

Chop Survival During Graduation Week

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Army, army band, band, Clarinet, Classical Music, graduation, marches, marching band, military band, Music, sousa, trombone, West Point, west point graduation, wind ensemble, work

One of the biggest challenges for me during graduation week is keeping my chops feeling good. We play a number of long performances during the week, and also have rehearsals for each performance scattered throughout the week. During graduation week, we play everything from formal military parades to chamber music, and each different job effects your chops in a different way.

During graduation week, there are two full-brigade reviews, meaning, the entire Corps of Cadets will be marching onto and off of the plain. Usually parades only use half of the cadets at any given time, so the parades during graduation week are nearly twice as long as usual. A full-brigade review is an impressive sight, seeing over 4,000 cadets march onto a previously empty field, only to march off an hour and a half later is something that everyone should witness at some point in life. It is a ceremony that is largely unchanged since the Revolutionary War.

Playing such a long parade is tiring for a musician. Anytime a group of cadets is moving, we are playing, and there is a lot of movement going on for the duration of the parade. Marches are also some of the most strenuous pieces to play, since there are rarely any rests for anyone. Playing on the field, you are also playing much louder for much longer than you usually would. By the time the end of the parade rolls around, my face is usually completely shot.

Staff Sgt. Torin Olsen performs at Graduation.

On the Friday before graduation day, that becomes a real challenge for me. In addition to playing clarinet in the concert and marching bands, I also perform in the West Point Woodwind Quintet. The evening before graduation the cadets and their families all come to Washington Hall for the graduation banquet. A small band will play entrance music while everyone files into the vast space that it Washington Hall. The band makes quite a bit of noise in the cavernous space, so during dinner, a woodwind quintet will typically perform dinner music. For me, this means after playing the morning parade, I will play some marches and entrance music, and then quickly leave for a central location in Washington Hall to play dinner music with the rest of the West Point Woodwind Quintet. During dinner, we will play 45 minutes or so of background music. Trying to be a sensitive chamber musician after marching a very long parade, and then playing a bunch of concert marches is a serious challenge. Doing it well is what separates Army special bandspeople from regular musicians.

During the week, I do several things to keep my chops feeling good. The most effective thing is often counter-intuitive. When my face is totally exhausted, and I feel like I couldn’t play another note, I go into the practice room and play some long tones. It is painful to do this, and takes some serious willpower to even get started, but after 20 minutes or so of concentrating on all aspects of my embouchure, I am in a much better place to tackle the next task, whatever it may be. I also take some time and do some breathing exercises. Nothing works properly on the clarinet without a good air column, so taking the time to do that correctly makes a world of difference. Breathing exercises are great because you can do them anywhere. I personally like these exercises by Arnold Jacobs.

In the end, graduation week is a taxing time for any band member. We are very busy during the week with many different kinds of commitments. I’m sure every band member has their own way of coping with the demands of performing at the highest level throughout the week. This is just a small look at what I do to keep in top form.

Words by Sgt. 1st Class Sam Kaestner

 

Graduation Week is Coming!

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Army, army band, band, Classical Music, concert band, graduation, hat toss, marches, marching band, military band, Music, veterans, West Point, west point graduation, wind ensemble, work

West Point cadets toss their hats in the air at graduation 2012.

Late May is a special time at West Point. For the Firstie cadets, known as seniors at most other colleges, it is graduation time. Many faculty members also leave the post to other assignments within the Army. For the band, it is a very, very busy time. As of today, there are 56 commitments for the unit in the 7 days that make up graduation week. Those events include rehearsals, marching drills, receptions, concerts, and graduation itself. Events start as early as 5:15 a.m. and go on well into the night on some days. This week is absolutely where the West Point Band puts all of its diverse talents on display.

Over the next few weeks, we will bring you several stories of what graduation week is like from the band member’s perspective. Stay tuned for good stories from inside the West Point Band.