Page 20 - 1917 February - To Dragma

1 1 0 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICROX PI TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICROX PI 111
"A singing fraternity." I f Alpha O were a singing fraternity,
We would find the bonds of loyalty and sisterly devotion strengthened
to an immeasurable degree. The inspiration and joy which spring
from singing together a really good song, representing the spirit and
ideals of our beloved fraternity cannot be measured. "The singing
chapter is the live chapter." Let us work up chapter singing and
let each chapter try out existing Alpha O songs and devote in addition
some effort to the problem of new songs, so that we may be a singing
fraternity with plenty of singable songs.
What do we need? Study the list. First and foremost a hymn
or song of loyalty, so fine that we will instinctively rise when we
sing it, and will feel that it expresses better even than can a ritual-
istic ceremony the ideals and traditions of Alpha Omicron Pi. Grand
Council opens a contest for such a song and offers ten dollars to the
one writing the song adjudged the most suitable.
I f you do not feel equal to the high task of a hymn, perhaps you
can offer a song suitable for pledging or initiation, or a simple
grace before meals. I f you are a senior and are beginning to feel
the pangs of parting, express your thoughts in a parting song to
be sung at the senior banquet. Or perhaps you hope to attend Con-
vention and feel inspired to write a loyalty song to the Founders,
or a Convention Song or a Reunion Song. We need them all, and
we need fine, inspiring songs to express our love and loyalty.
For these songs, hymns, patriotic airs, or old favorites are recom-
mended to the budding song geniuses: "Gaudeamus Igitur," "Integer
Vitae," "Lauriger Horatius," "Now the Day is Over," "Doxology,"
"O Mother Dear, Jerusalem." These may be found in any good
church hymnal. There are many staunch patriotic airs to be found in
a good school collection: Austrian National Hymn, Kellar's Ameri-
can Hymn, Recessional, Russian National Hymn. One of the finest
school songs is "Illinois Loyalty," but such a song has such value as
a college song and so much local suggestion that, generally speaking,
it should not be used.
For the banquet songs more rollicking types may be chosen: Bul-
lard's "Stein Song," "Old Heidelberg," "Song of a Gambolier,"
"Wearing of the Green," etc. The following list may be of some
value. Most of them may be found in Songs We Like to Sing: (Pub-
lished by Silver Burdett Co.)
" A l l Through the Night," "Auld Lang Syne," "Believe Me I f A l l
Those Endearing Young Charms," "Blue Bells of Scotland," "Drink
to Me Only with Thine Eyes," "Flow Gently Sweet Afton," "Isle
of Beauty," "Loch Lomond," "Maryland, my Maryland," "A Merry
Life," " M y Heart's in the Highlands," "Soldier's Farewell," "Stars
of the Summer Night." "Upidee," "Vesper Hymn."
Songs written to "popular airs" have a certain value, but their
life is limited to the life of the "popular song," usually one year.
Such songs should not be encouraged no matter how catchy or
attractive they seem, for they are all doomed to early disappearance.
Some of the songs in Robin Hood or in Gilbert and Sullivan's
operas are worthy models, but the safest tunes are folk tunes and
hymns because, in the first place, time has tested their worth, and
our children will be singing these tunes when all our poems and
popular songs have been buried; secondly, because they are known
to everyone and everyone loves to sing them and will sing them
with beauty and understanding.
As to the poems, good inspirational poetry is what we are seeking,
words that will express the ideals to which we are devoted and which
can be set advantageously to the tune selected. Here are a few hints:
Select the type of song to be written, and search for a tune that
expresses the general feeling. Then get a copy of the words and
music. (Never trust to your memory.) Jot down the metrical and
rhyme scheme of the original poem and follow i t ! ! You will find
that you won't get into trouble with too many or too few syllables
to the line, and your rhymes won't be forced i f you follow the origi-
nal scheme. Note the most significant point in the line and make
that the most significant point in your poem. Avoid accenting an
insignificant word like "and," "the," etc.; avoid vague constructions
and unusual order of words.* Make the poem as simple and natural
as possible, then it will be singable and good. Copy the words
and music and submit to the committee by April 15, 1917.
The best songs will be published in To DRAGMA from time to
time, and all will be tried out at the Convention in Virginia in June.
Now a few hints on the chapter singing, for here is where the
songs will survive or perish. From the writer's experience in school
singing, the greatest hindrance to good song singing is lack of
memorizing words. A person who is searching his memory for the
words can hardly sing with enthusiasm and spirit. The first advice
is, learn the poem. Have an examination i f necessary, but be sure
every girl knows every word. The tunes are not so difficult. I f the
song is to be sung in unison and there is only one copy of the music,
give it to the most musical girl. Let her play (with one finger) the
melody, and let the rest fit the words. I n ten minutes it can be
sung with enthusiasm, even a new tune. Then sing—and sing—sing
at chapter meetings—sing at the table—sing around the fire—sing for
your alumna?—sing, and let's be known as that "singing fraternity,"
Alpha Omicron Pi.
* Avoid personal allusions to other fraternities, use no other abbreviation
for Alpha Omicron Pi than "Alpha 0," and above all, don't use the word
"frat."