Marching Illini
Encyclopedia
The Marching Illini is the marching band
of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
. The Marching Illini is a close-knit organization which annually includes approximately 350 students enrolled in the University of Illinois. Members of the Marching Illini represent virtually every college, discipline, and major on the University's diverse Urbana-Champaign campus.
featuring special lighting effects, performances by individual sections, and slightly pithy comic routines. Other performances include a drill for the Illini Marching Festival, halftime performances at postseason bowl games, and an annual away performance at the home football game of another Big Ten
school. The MI does not typically perform for parades other than the annual Homecoming parade and when marching to and from Foellinger Auditorium
.
Instrumentation of the Marching Illini is based upon the composition of a typical concert band
, but modified in several ways to support outdoor performance. Piccolos are used instead of flutes. Mellophone
s replace the [horns]. A larger-than-usual section of metal sousaphone
s adds a deeper low brass sound, not to mention visual interest. The band has a higher-than-usual proportion of low- and mid-range brass instruments (baritone, trombone, sousaphone, and mellophone) and the complete woodwind section that allows the band to play traditional concert band repertoire (unlike all-brass marching bands). An auxiliary flag corps and female dance squad (dubbed the "Illinettes") contribute an another visual element to the band's performances.
s) and typically remain in a symmetric arrangement about the 50-yard line in abstract patterns (contrast with drum and bugle corps
, who ordinarily feature a much greater breadth of formations). The drill style of the band is a necessity since the band performs an entirely new show for every home football game; thus the formations, while considerably complex, must be efficiently memorized by the ensemble.
while also serving as Acting Director of Bands at EIU from 2008 to 2011 after receiving a graduate degree from the University of Illinois. As a graduate student, Houser instructed with the Marching Illini as a Graduate Assistant, frequently conducting from the backfield podium during performances. Houser attended the University of Florida
as an undergraduate and has been involved with the nationally renowned Smith-Walbridge Clinics for drum majors and marching bands with Director Emeritus of the Marching Illini Gary E. Smith. Houser now serves as Director and Head Clinician with Smith-Walbridge.
Houser's immediate predecessor was Dr. Peter J. Griffin. He became the Assistant Director of Bands in 1994. During his tenure at Illinois, he served as Coordinator of Band Festivals and Assistant Director of the Marching Illini. Upon the resignation of Director Tom Caneva in 2006, Griffin was chosen as an interim replacement. Griffin was named as the permanent director in December 2006 and served in that position until May 2011, when he took the position of Chair of the Music Department at Elmhurst College
.
Directors of the Marching Illini:
Barry L. Houser 2011-Present
Dr. Peter J. Griffin 2006-2011
Dr. Thomas E. Caneva 1998-2005
Gary E. Smith 1976-1997, Sabbatical replacement 2004
Everitt Kisinger 1949-1975
Mark Hindsley 1931-1948
Ray Dvorak 1924-1930
Albert Austin Harding
1907-1923
Some positions, such as Illinettes, Illini Drumline, Flag Corps, and drum majors, have earlier auditions. These positions are generally more competitive and may have a series of camps and auditions starting as early as January.
.
is the Illinois school song and was written by Thacher Howland Guild specifically for the university and was first performed March 3, 1906.
is used as the Illinois fight song since Illinois Loyalty is not well-suited for rousing a crowd during a game. The University is somewhat unique in this regard, as it is uncommon for a school to have a separate fight song and school song.
in 4-part harmony by the Marching Illini before the band is dismissed at the end of the post-game concert following each home game. This song is based on the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
fraternity song "Hail to the Purple."
The Marching Illini was the second band to ever be awarded the prestigious Louis Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy in 1983, after only the Michigan Marching Band
. In addition to Rose Bowl appearances, the Marching Illini has performed at the All-American, Peach, Liberty, Citrus, Hall of Fame, John Hancock, Holiday, MicronPC.com, Texas, and Sugar Bowl games.
In addition to its performances, the University of Illinois Bands could claim the honor of holding the largest collection of original works and papers by John Philip Sousa
, until 1994 when these items were transferred from the possession of the band to the university's archives, under the control of the University Library. These archives remain housed on the upper level of the Harding
Band Building.
The Marching Illini can also lay claim to several firsts, which are listed on the band's official website. These include:
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...
of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. The Marching Illini is a close-knit organization which annually includes approximately 350 students enrolled in the University of Illinois. Members of the Marching Illini represent virtually every college, discipline, and major on the University's diverse Urbana-Champaign campus.
Performances
The band primarily performs before, during, and after University of Illinois home football games. The band also performs an indoor concert at the Assembly HallAssembly Hall (Champaign)
Assembly Hall is a large dome-shaped indoor arena, located in Champaign, Illinois, and is part of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign....
featuring special lighting effects, performances by individual sections, and slightly pithy comic routines. Other performances include a drill for the Illini Marching Festival, halftime performances at postseason bowl games, and an annual away performance at the home football game of another Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
school. The MI does not typically perform for parades other than the annual Homecoming parade and when marching to and from Foellinger Auditorium
Foellinger Auditorium
Foellinger Auditorium is a building located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus in Urbana, Illinois. It is the southernmost building on the main quad, and is directly across the quad from the Illini Union. Its sheer size and its dome shape make it one university’s most...
.
Instrumentation
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, but modified in several ways to support outdoor performance. Piccolos are used instead of flutes. Mellophone
Mellophone
The mellophone is a brass instrument that is typically used in place of the horn in marching bands or drum and bugle corps....
s replace the [horns]. A larger-than-usual section of metal 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...
s adds a deeper low brass sound, not to mention visual interest. The band has a higher-than-usual proportion of low- and mid-range brass instruments (baritone, trombone, sousaphone, and mellophone) and the complete woodwind section that allows the band to play traditional concert band repertoire (unlike all-brass marching bands). An auxiliary flag corps and female dance squad (dubbed the "Illinettes") contribute an another visual element to the band's performances.
Style
The band performs in a style common to other marching bands of the Big Ten collegiate athletic conference. While the band prides itself on developing innovations in marching, its style is somewhat conservative when compared to other marching bands. The band move among precise drill formations (unlike East Coast scramble bandScramble band
A scramble band - also known as a scatter band - is a particular type of field-performing marching band with distinct characteristics that set it apart from other common forms of marching bands; most notably, scramble bands do not normally march...
s) and typically remain in a symmetric arrangement about the 50-yard line in abstract patterns (contrast with 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...
, who ordinarily feature a much greater breadth of formations). The drill style of the band is a necessity since the band performs an entirely new show for every home football game; thus the formations, while considerably complex, must be efficiently memorized by the ensemble.
Director
Professor Barry L. Houser was named as Visiting Assistant Director of Bands and Conductor of Athletics Bands (including Director of the Marching Illini and Basketball Band) in July 2011. Professor Houser served as Director of the Marching Panthers and Basketball Band at Eastern Illinois UniversityEastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
while also serving as Acting Director of Bands at EIU from 2008 to 2011 after receiving a graduate degree from the University of Illinois. As a graduate student, Houser instructed with the Marching Illini as a Graduate Assistant, frequently conducting from the backfield podium during performances. Houser attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
as an undergraduate and has been involved with the nationally renowned Smith-Walbridge Clinics for drum majors and marching bands with Director Emeritus of the Marching Illini Gary E. Smith. Houser now serves as Director and Head Clinician with Smith-Walbridge.
Houser's immediate predecessor was Dr. Peter J. Griffin. He became the Assistant Director of Bands in 1994. During his tenure at Illinois, he served as Coordinator of Band Festivals and Assistant Director of the Marching Illini. Upon the resignation of Director Tom Caneva in 2006, Griffin was chosen as an interim replacement. Griffin was named as the permanent director in December 2006 and served in that position until May 2011, when he took the position of Chair of the Music Department at Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College is a comprehensive private liberal arts college in Elmhurst, Illinois with a tradition of service-oriented learning. It has a rich affiliation with the United Church of Christ.- History :...
.
Directors of the Marching Illini:
Barry L. Houser 2011-Present
Dr. Peter J. Griffin 2006-2011
Dr. Thomas E. Caneva 1998-2005
Gary E. Smith 1976-1997, Sabbatical replacement 2004
Everitt Kisinger 1949-1975
Mark Hindsley 1931-1948
Ray Dvorak 1924-1930
Albert Austin Harding
Albert Austin Harding
Albert Austin Harding was the first Director Of Bands at the University of Illinois. He was also the first band director at an American university to hold a position of full professorship...
1907-1923
Auditions
High school seniors planning to attend UI, transfer students, and current UI students are allowed to audition for the Marching Illini. Students must be accepted into the University before setting up an audition time. Since audition results are announced in early May, students must complete their audition by April 28th. Auditions continue through the summer for open positions only. If a student desires to audition on multiple instruments (for instance, alto and tenor saxophone) they may sign up for multiple time slots.Some positions, such as Illinettes, Illini Drumline, Flag Corps, and drum majors, have earlier auditions. These positions are generally more competitive and may have a series of camps and auditions starting as early as January.
Traditions
Pregame Show
The traditional Marching Illini pregame show showcases many varieties of marching styles, and is designed to showcase the band's pride in the school, state and country. The entire show, performed 17-24 minutes before the start of every home football game, consists of seven songs and is nearly 12 minutes in length. Designed for viewing from both sides of Memorial Stadium, the east side serves as the ‘home side’ of the two-sided pregame show. This is somewhat unusual since the press box and TV cameras are on the west side. With the move of the student section and the "Block-I" to the north end of the stadium, the Marching Illini have reoriented their final set for William Tell to face north at the end of the show to play directly to the new student section.Revised Entrance #3
Revised Entrance #3, the pregame opener and calling card of the Marching Illini, combines an opening fanfare with a march version of the Illinois state songIllinois (state song)
"Illinois" is the official state song of the U.S. state of Illinois. Written by Charles H. Chamberlain and composed by Archibald Johnston, "Illinois" became the state song by an act of the 54th Illinois General Assembly .-Lyrics:...
.
Illinois Loyalty
Illinois LoyaltyIllinois Loyalty
Illinois Loyalty is the main school song of the University of Illinois.First performed March 3, 1906, 'Illinois Loyalty' is one of the oldest songs of its kind in the United States...
is the Illinois school song and was written by Thacher Howland Guild specifically for the university and was first performed March 3, 1906.
Oskee Wow Wow
Oskee Wow-WowOskee Wow-Wow
Oskee Wow Wow is the official fight song of the University of Illinois.The song was written in 1911 by two Illinois students, Howard Green and Harold Hill. The school had recently discovered that its official school song, Illinois Loyalty, was not well suited to rousing a crowd during a game.There...
is used as the Illinois fight song since Illinois Loyalty is not well-suited for rousing a crowd during a game. The University is somewhat unique in this regard, as it is uncommon for a school to have a separate fight song and school song.
Hail to the Orange
The Illinois Alma Mater, Hail to the Orange is performed as part of Three in One at the end of each halftime performance. It is also sung a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
in 4-part harmony by the Marching Illini before the band is dismissed at the end of the post-game concert following each home game. This song is based on the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
fraternity song "Hail to the Purple."
Facts and figures
Michigan Marching Band
The Michigan Marching Band is the University of Michigan's marching band.-History:In 1896 the MMB was founded as a student organization and became a firm part of the Michigan tradition in 1898. Shortly after William D. Revelli became director he aligned the MMB with the School of Music which...
. In addition to Rose Bowl appearances, the Marching Illini has performed at the All-American, Peach, Liberty, Citrus, Hall of Fame, John Hancock, Holiday, MicronPC.com, Texas, and Sugar Bowl games.
In addition to its performances, the University of Illinois Bands could claim the honor of holding the largest collection of original works and papers by John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
, until 1994 when these items were transferred from the possession of the band to the university's archives, under the control of the University Library. These archives remain housed on the upper level of the Harding
Albert Austin Harding
Albert Austin Harding was the first Director Of Bands at the University of Illinois. He was also the first band director at an American university to hold a position of full professorship...
Band Building.
The Marching Illini can also lay claim to several firsts, which are listed on the band's official website. These include:
- Birthplace of the college concert band - first formal concert given in 1890, with performances as early as 1872
- First school song - Illinois Loyalty was first performed March 3, 1906
- First college to use Sousaphones - upright bell model sousaphones were purchased in 1906–1907
- First halftime show - in 1907 for the University of Chicago game
- First to form school letters (Block I in parade)
- First Homecoming - first celebrated in October, 1910
- First Dad's Day - first celebrated in November, 1920
- First Mom's Day - first celebrated in 1921
- Performed at first football game broadcast on radio (band was heard on WGN experimental play-by-play broadcast, probably in 1924)
- First to sing a cappella on the field - in the Quad Cities during a trip to Iowa in 1920
- Chief Illiniwek made its first appearance in 1926
- First student card section (Block I)
- Referred to by John Phillip Sousa as "World's Greatest College Band" in the 1920s
- First band to have its own band building (in the 1930s)
- First to have a giant school flag
- First to march mallets at the college level
- First college marching band to release a compact disc ("The Marching Illini" in 1986)
- First college band to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland in 1992
- First Band with a website – first advertised in April, 1994.
- Performed at the first televised football game and the first football game televised in color.
- First band to use field bugles in a field show (1913–14), thus making the Marching Illini the first drum and bugle corps