Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad
Encyclopedia
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
engineering students. The LGMB is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of Skule spirit along with Ye Olde Mighty Skule Cannon (the Skule mascot, a working cannon) and the Brute Force Committee (BFC). The LGMB is notable for its open membership policy and sometimes audacious appearances at events.
The Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva
Godiva , often referred to as Lady Godiva , was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants...
Memorial Bnad is primarily a spirit group and secondly a musical group. The bnad is often introduced, incorrectly, as the Lady Godiva Marching Band, despite the fact that the bnad never marches. A more correct term would be meandering band. The use of the term bnad is a reference to the inability (or unwillingness) of engineers to spell correctly (see Skule).
Repertoire and instrumentation
The LGMB tries to play an assortment of Skule-spirit, drinking, Christmas, and generally offensive songs. Choice of pieces is typically spontaneous; the Bnad Leedur will start playing, and the rest of the group joins in or not. Certain scheduled events, such as the Santa Claus ParadeToronto Santa Claus Parade
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is a Santa Claus parade held annually in mid-November in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. More than a half million people attend the parade every year. The parade starts at 12:30pm and ends approximately 3:30pm...
, require the bnad to refrain from certain items that are considered unsuitable for young children or society in general. As well, certain actions, events, or locations typically require certain songs to be played. For example, the "Walking Song" is played when the bnad walks, "Wipe Out" is played when the bnad returns to the Bnad Room through the archway on the west side of Hart House, and "Godiva's Hymn
Godiva's Hymn
Godiva's Hymn is a traditional drinking song for engineers. It was originally sung by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; although students there still recognize it, disapproval from the administration has marginalized its presence...
" is played in the presence of Ye Olde Mighty Skule Cannon.
During an event, bnad members play an instrument of their choice including traditional instruments such as bass drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
, snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, baritone
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
, sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, and cymbal
Cymbal
Cymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
s, as well as non traditional instruments including electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(with portable amplifier), electric keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, slide whistle
Slide whistle
A slide whistle is a wind instrument consisting of a fipple like a recorder's and a tube with a piston in it. Thus it has an air reed like some woodwinds, but varies the pitch with a slide. The construction is rather like a bicycle pump...
, kazoo
Kazoo
The kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
, washboard
Washboard
A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing. With mechanized cleaning of clothing becoming more common by the end of the 20th century, the washboard has become better known for its originally subsidiary use as a musical instrument....
, bedpan
Bedpan
A bedpan or bed pan is an object used for the toileting of a bedridden patient in a health care facility, usually made of a metal, glass, or plastic receptacle. A bed pan can be used for both urinary and fecal discharge. Many diseases can confine a patient to bed, necessitating the use of bedpans,...
, maraca, and fire bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
.
Bnad Leedurs typically play the trombone for its simplicity, range, and volume, though other instruments are occasionally taken. The D(r)umb Majur(k) plays snare drum without exception, but may improvise by playing any other instrument, object, or person as a drum during certain pieces.
Bnad members
The LGMB advertises that any student in the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and EngineeringUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
The Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is an academic division of the University of Toronto devoted to study and research in engineering. Founded in 1873 as the School of Practical Science, it is still known today by the longtime nickname of Skule...
is a member of the Bnad by default. However, a more practical definition of a bnad member is anyone who has attended a bnad event. No musical talent is required to play with the LGMB, which is perhaps the greatest contributing factor to the group's unique performance.
Current and Recent Bnad Leedurs (showing graduation year and discipline studied):
| Year (Term) | Bnad Leedur | D(r)umb Majur(k) | Cymbolic Major | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2013 | Mauricio Curbelo | Civ Civil engineering Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings... 1T3 |
||||
| 2011-2012 | Richard Medal | Elec Electrical engineering Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical... 1T2 |
Gabriel Stavros | MSE Materials science Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates... 1T3 |
||
| 2010-2011 | Alex Martins | Mech Mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the... 1T1 |
Addie Denison | Mech 1T2 | ||
| 2009-2010 | Kevin P. Siu | NΨ 1T0+PEY | Alvin Ho | Elec 0T9+PEY | ||
| 2008-2009 | Catie Darling | Mech 0T9+PEY | David Clease | Mech 1T0+PEY | ||
| 2007-2008 | Nick Loberto | Mech 0T7+PEY | Steven Szeto | Indy Industrial engineering Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the optimization of complex processes or systems. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis... 0T9 |
||
| 2006-2007 | Caitlin Bailey | Mech 0T7+3 | Nick Cifelli | Mech 0T6+PEY | Evangelos Staikos | CS Computer science Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems... 0T7+? |
| 2005-2006 | Jeffy Cornthwaite | NΨ 0T5+PEY | Henry Cheung | NΨ 0T7+PEY | ||
| 2004-2005 | Luke Wesley | Mech 0T5+PEY | Adam Gravitis | NΨ 0T6 | ||
| 2003-2004 | Susan Hogle | Mech 0T4 | Thorsten Klaus | Civ 0T4 | ||
Some notable members of the LGMB have been:
- Sidney SmithSidney Smith (politician)Sidney Earle Smith, PC was a noted academic and Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs in the government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.-Biography:...
(c.1950) - A.J. Paul La Prairie (c.1949–1950)
- Tim Allan (c.1968–1972)
- Bob Bossin (c.1966–1969)
History
The Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad was founded circa 1950, by A.J. Paul La Prairie while he was a student at the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and EngineeringUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
The Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is an academic division of the University of Toronto devoted to study and research in engineering. Founded in 1873 as the School of Practical Science, it is still known today by the longtime nickname of Skule...
. Originally called The Lady Godiva Band, it was soon renamed to the Lady Godiva Memorial Band, a name suggested by the University of Toronto Engineering Society president Bill Walker. They have since become the Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad [sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
].
The original band had about fifteen members and was initially led by their founder A.J. Paul La Prairie. During their second rehearsal, however, it was discovered that La Prairie could not read music, so the band was turned over to Tom Kenney, a chemical engineering student.
The LGMB's first uniform consisted of a few red military jackets and pith helmets. The uniform along with their first bass drum, two tenor drum
Tenor drum
A tenor drum is a cylindrical drum that is higher pitched than a bass drum.In a symphony orchestra's percussion section, a tenor drum is a low-pitched drum, similar in size to a field snare, but without snares and played with soft mallets or hard sticks. Under various names, the drum has been used...
s, cymbals and a drum major
Drum Major
A drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps. The drum major, who is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps, is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding...
's baton were courtesy of La Prairie's resourcefulness and his military connections. Those who didn't wear military jackets were often seen in the traditional leather jacket of the engineering faculty. Later, members began to wear their decorated hardhats to events. The first public appearance of the LGMB was at the Annual Homecoming Parade on the back of a flatbed truck. http://archives.library.utoronto.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&BU=http%3A//archives.library.utoronto.ca/dbtw-wpd/textbase/175image/&TN=175image&SN=AUTO2465&SE=1158&RN=4&MR=10&RF=175report&DF=175expanded&RL=0&DL=0&NP=3&ID=
An account of one of the first events given by A.J. Paul La Prairie:
We did have one parade that I do remember, with humour. There was a big football game at Varsity Stadium. The L.G.M.B. marched up and, to the amazement of the ticket collectors, we played our way right through the gate and on to the field. For this event we were all wearing great big moustaches. When we came to the fifty yard line I noticed Sidney Smith sitting in front. I offered him a moustache, which he put on. The band serenaded him. Ergo, Sidney Smith, President of The University of Toronto, became an Honorary Member of the L.G.M.B. (La Prairie 1994) http://traditions.skule.ca/articles/ajax/alumni/laprairie.php
Another notable event attended by the LGMB was the Bloor-Danforth subway opening on February 26, 1966. According to The Ubyssey, a University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
student newspaper, 500 University of Toronto engineering students led by the LGMB "lept over turnstiles" and the first 400 students piled onto a train. One of the remaining students then pulled the emergency power switch. This event interfered with regular service for more than five hours. The LGMB has been accused of causing this disruption; however, their involvement is not verified. http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubyssey/UBYSSEY_1966_03_01.pdf
The next year, the LGMB produced their first of six albums to date, Lady Godiva Memorial Band at the Mighty Cannonball (1962). Also produced by the LGMB were The Lady Godiva Memorial Band Strikes Back!! (1964), Lady Godiva Memorial Band Blows (1967), Band With the Runs (1977), Never Mind the Football Game, Here's the Lady Godiva Memorial Band (1989), and Let Go Me Bongos! (CD 1999).
In the 1970s, at the beginning of University of Toronto Frosh Week each year, the LGMB met on the provincial lawn in front of the Ontario provincial legislature. There with engineering, law, medical and arts first year students they received a speech from the presiding Ontario Premier. During the ceremony the band played several "standard" selections as well as Godiva's Hymn.
In 1976, the LGMB won a second place award in the Kiwanis Festival in class 425 (Brass and Reed Bands — Open). Paul Higgins led the LGMB to a first place award in class 501 (Brass and Reed Bands — membership to be less than 30), in a different year, for their performance of First Suite for Military Band in E Flat by Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
.
In the fall of 1976 the LGMB played at the CN tower
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
alongside Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
and his wife Maggie, becoming the first band to play at the CN Tower.
About the same time, just before their 1977 album, a new uniform began to appear. Along with the engineering jacket and decorated hardhat, members wore hockey shirts adorned with the LGMB logo on the front. These shirts were originally mostly yellow with blue and white accents. (The Skule colours are blue and gold.) This design was updated to mostly blue with yellow and white accents in 1993.
In 2000, the LGMB sat in the audience for a showing of Jonovision
Jonovision
Jonovision is a Canadian television talk show aimed toward teenagers. The show aired for five seasons, from 1996 to 2001, on CBC Television. Jonovision was nominated for 4 Gemini Awards. It reached the top of its popularity at the end of its fourth season, when it hosted a Degrassi reunion...
. They were mentioned briefly by the host Jonathan Torrens
Jonathan Torrens
Jonathan Ormond Torrens is a Canadian actor and television personality best known for his co-hosting of Street Cents, his talk show Jonovision, and his role as "J-Roc" in the popular Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys...
. The LGMB also made it onto Breakfast Television
Breakfast Television
Breakfast Television is a Canadian morning news and entertainment program which airs on the Citytv stations . Each station produces its own local edition of Breakfast Television....
on September 3, 2002. Also in 2002, the LGMB continued its tradition of attending "openings" by riding on the opening subway of the Sheppard subway line.
After years of "crashing" the Toronto Santa Claus Parade
Toronto Santa Claus Parade
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is a Santa Claus parade held annually in mid-November in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. More than a half million people attend the parade every year. The parade starts at 12:30pm and ends approximately 3:30pm...
uninvited, often resulting in being escorted away from the parade by the Toronto Police Service
Toronto Police Service
The Toronto Police Service , formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Police, is the police service for the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest municipal police service in Canada and second largest police force in Canada after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police...
, the LGMB was finally invited to participate in the nationally-televised parade in 2007 when the organizers of the parade needed a last-minute replacement band for the event. The LGMB has been invited back to the Santa Claus Parade every year since.
Albums and discography
- 1962: Lady Godiva Memorial Band at the Mighty Cannonball
1. Colonel Bogey
2. Peter Gunn
3. Lassus Trombone
4. In a Persian Market
5. Midnight in Moscow
6. JFK
7. Little Brown Jug
8. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor (transposed)
9. Theme from Man with the Golden Arm
10. Godiva
11. The Saints
- 1964: The Lady Godiva Memorial Band Strikes Back!!
1. Divertmento
2. Ben Gunn
3. Electronic Joke #1
4. Lassus Trombone
5. The Light Cavalry Overture
6. Five O'Clock in UC
7. Godiva
8. The Saints
9. Cannon
10. Little Brown Jug
11. Electronic Joke #2
12. 1812 Overture
13. One Minute of Silence
14. Skeaf plays Gershwin
15. Huzzanga Chorus
16. University of Toronto
- 1967: Lady Godiva Memorial Band Blows
Side One
1. Fanfare to the prize-winning Lady Godiva Memorial Band
2. God save DeGaulle
3. Bill Bailey, will you please go home
4. Batman
5. Dolly's Last Stand
6. Peter in the wolf
7. Watermelon man
8. Talking McGill Train Blues
9. The man with the golden finger
10. University College Song and Cheer
11. The Skule Song and Cannon
Side Two
21. Second Brandenburg Concerto, Allegro Assai
22. Muskrat Ramble
23. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
24a First Suite for Military Band in and around E Flat
24b First Suite for Military Band in and around E Flat
24c First Suite for Military Band in and around E Flat
25. Blue Danube Waltz
26. Canada's Favourite Folksongs
27. Bungler's Holiday
28. University of Toronto Song
29. Spontaneous Encore Blues
30. Trumpet Voluntary Movement and Water Music
- 1977: Band With the Runs
Side One
1. Preamble
2. Gnag Bnag (Sam and Janet Evening)
3. Ooble Dooble
4. Blue and White (Black and Blue)
5. Crock of Ages (Sally Ann)
6. The Blunderer (R.I.P. Sousa; disarr. R. Yates)
7. Ben Dover Suite
8. Mailman (John Henry)
9. The Stripper (Fanny Foxbach)
10. Furry Leaves (Albumsplaat) (Chevy van Beethoven)
11. Amble
12. How Does He Smell?
Side Two
1. Interamble
2. Second Military Suite in F! (Gustav Holst)
3. Moreofthesameamble
4. Take Me, Out
5. Whoa! (When Ah says whoa, Ah means whoa!)
6. Postamble
7. Skaters Vaults
8. Grand Finaleamble
9. Skule Song (A cannon featuring the LGMGregorian Chant Society)
10. Grate Escape, with Festive Interlewd
11. Terrible
- 1989: Never Mind the Football Game, Here's the Lady Godiva Memorial Band
Side One
1. Washington and Lee Swing
2. Mickey Mouse
3. Oh... Canada
3a Bad Joke #1
4. Flintstones
4a Bnad Cheer #1 and more
5. Ball Game (Take Me Out)
6. Hey, Look Us Over
6a Rob West Cheer
7. Rubber Ducky
7a Bnad Cheer #2
8. Those Were the Days
8a Bnad Cheer #3
9. 1002
10. Two-Skin
10a Sexual Bnad Chant #1
11. More Beer
11a Bad Joke #2
11b It's Amazing!
11c Bad Joke #3
12. Web-footed Friends
Side Two
1. Godiva's Rap
2. Mailman
3. Black & Blue (U of T Song)
4. Colonel Bogie
5. Muppet Shoe
6. Oh God! Save the Non-Sexist Engineer
7. Black Christmas
8. Skater's Waltz
9. Song of the Fighting Soldier
10. California Suite in C#
11. Engineer's Hymn (Skule Song)
12. Grate Escape
13. K-Dense
- 1999: Let Go Me Bongos! (CD)
1. Marching Bands
2. Sesame Street
3. Louie Lou-i-ay
4. Rubber Ducky
5. Falling Into Sin
6. Hey, Look Us Over
7. Mailman
8. God Save the Engineer
9. Game Take Me Out
10. Muppet Show
11. Why Are We Waiting
12. Tickle Terry (PC Version)
13. Tickle Terry (Non-PC Version)
14. Mickey Mouse
15. Foreskin
16. Walking Song #1
17. Walking Song #2
18. Roll Me Over
19. Web Footed
20. More Beer
21. Tequila
22. Wipe Out
23. The Engineering Hymn
Awards
- 1st Place - 1965 Kiwanis Music Festival, Brass and Reed Bands
- 1st Place - 1967 Kiwanis Music Festival
- 2nd Place - 1976 Kiwanis Music Festival, Brass and Reed Bands (Class 425)
- 1st Place - 1980 Kiwanis Music Festival, Brass and Reed Bands — membership to be less than 30 (Class 501)