UB's musical past

At the Music Library located in Baird Hall, students can glimpse through rustic pages of song sheets and learn how music united the people of UB and the surrounding community at the University Songs Exhibit

"The exhibit displays four glass cases which all represent different aspects of UB's songs over approximately 100 years," said Jason Imbesi, assistant librarian and one of the exhibit's curators. "Music was very much a part of UB and campus life."

One case focuses on the "Alma Mater," initially written by two students in the early 1900s and lyrically updated a few years ago. The exhibit focuses on the evolution of the song from the time it was written as well as the instrumentation of it, according to Imbesi.

The library possesses the original alma mater arrangement, which was composed for piano. Since its origination, the song has been arranged for banjo, mandolin and even the glee club. Also on display are sections of various past fight songs and marches, according to Imbesi.

"Most people don't realize that we've had so many influential people write songs for UB," said Genevieve Maynard, a graduate student in the School of Library Sciences.

According to Imbesi, one of the most acclaimed songwriters to contribute to UB was Meredith Wilson, a songwriter for the Broadway musical The Music Man, who's famed fight song is on display.

"We also have a case about a song contest done in the mid-1950s, where students, faculty, and even local peoples could submit two types of songs in an effort to beef up the school spirit," Imbesi said.

The final section of the exhibit explores songs pertinent to various departments. According to Imbesi, at a time when the school was smaller, the departments were more close-knit and published yearbooks that contained creative compilations like songs and poetry.

"It was a very creative thing for students to engage themselves in," Imbesi said. "Department and fight songs were specifically very unifying, where people would sing together and the marching band would too. It was very spirit and community-oriented."

The exhibit also contains song sheets from fundraisers in the late '20s when people would get together and sing songs to raise money to make improvements in the university, according to Imbesi.

"Most generations now just don't care. Students come to take classes, do what they need to, then go out into the world," said Nicole Kellum, a junior anthropology major.

Kellum said her old school played music in the hallways in the mornings and have stronger ties to music and the community as a whole.

"I think the music interest has changed over the years; in the past, UB songs had a meaning to people and played a larger role," Imbesi said. "Now people just usually know the fight songs, and of course, the 'Alma Mater' is played at the convocation."

According to Imbesi, people of UB's past were looking for things to do and were more interactive, but as the campus has grown, activities have become more widespread.

"UB is world-known for its music theory and people come in fairly often to see the exhibit," Imbesi said.

The song exhibit, clearly a landmark of unified school spirit, is running until Jan. 15 and is a great place for students to visit to bring about some inspiration and school pride.