Page 19 - 1917 February - To Dragma
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108 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 109
POEMS FRATERNITY SONGS A N D SONG W R I T I N G
BY FANNIE W . BUTTERFIEI.D, K , '17 BY MAE I . KNIGHT, 2, '06
FRIENDSHIP
Chairman of Song Committee
A bud has crept over my window-sill,
I t is wrought with an infinite, tender skill, Fraternity songs have had two sources of inspiration, the ritual-
Unfolding worlds beyond my fireside here, istic rite and the need for expressing the feeling of fellowship. Since
But the vine outside shivers harsh and sere. the ritual is devotional and spiritual, the church hymn has furnished
the inspiration as well as the music for that type of song. The
A life has come into my heart's hearth glow; rollicking college song has furnished the model and music for festive
It is harsh and rough to the world, I know, gatherings, and some of the well-loved folk songs like "Believe Me
But the budding soul is the part I see, I f A l l Those Endearing Young Charms" and "Auld Lang Syne"
And a perfect thing is this life to me. have been the source of countless loyalty songs. The quality of
verse has ranged from the trite and commonplace to that of a very
SHADOW- PICTURES high inspirational order. The music has usually been tunes already
in existence. This is not strange, and perhaps we should
Dimpfed mischief, baby fingers, be content with the use of existing tunes, f~r there are many old
Firelight on a dancing wall. well-known melodies that are adapted to express the very spirit of
loyalty and love that a fraternity song should express. These
Not one shadow ever lingers, melodies are usually simple folk tu* .*s and suggestions will be
Gleefully he tries them all. made later as to their use.
Hares and chicks fade in the making; When and where are fraternity songs sung? What singing memo-
Sleepy in my arms at last, ries do we cherish? First, are the ritualistic songs, songs associated
with the ceremony of pledging—of in;»: lion. Then there is the
A l l his baj acts awaking, fraternity hymn, the best known and u*ost cherished song, which
Fleet my shadow pictures past. really crowns the real Greek. In addition there are the banquet
songs—first a grace to be sung bflfore being seated, then the toast
(Both the above poems appe^ed in the Randolph-Macon Tattler. to the fraternity. There may be included songs for special occasions,
"Friendship" is to be published in the Anthology of College Poetry the reunion or Alumna? song, the parting or Senior song, the
for 1915-IQ16. T H E EDITOR.) Founders' song, the Convention song. Then there are the quiet Sun-
day evenings, about the fire-place, when the special chapter songs
are sung, some humorous, some cheering, all more or less personal
and local.
Let us look at Alpha Omicron Pi and see how our songs suit
our needs. An examination of our songbook and of the songs
published from time to time in To DRAGMA will make us decide
at once, that, though we have some songs that meet our needs fairly
well—"Once More United," "The Rose of Red," "Alpha Girls" (a
more appropriate title can surely be found), "Oh Alpha O" in May,
1916, To DRAGMA, and "Loyalty" in November, 1915—there is
obvious need for many, many more and better songs. Grand Council
has recognized this need and is behind the Song Committee in its
effort to make Alpha Omicron Pi a "singing fraternity." Wouldn't
that be an excellent aim for 1917?
