Like many other universities of the 1800s, 鶹ýվ inspired its students to write all sorts of songs about student life and their devotion to “Alma Mater.” These songs, along with other popular ones of the day, were often compiled into songbooks, which allow us today to see the evolution of the ways students expressed their appreciation for 鶹ýվ.
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鶹ýվ’s first songbook, published in 1879 by an anonymous “student in Arts,” contains some of the earliest versions of Canadian folk songs in existence, as well as quite a few drinking songs. Later editions became first more polite, featuring four-part harmonies in praise of Dear Alma Mater; and then, as time went on and sports became ever more popular, more aggressive, with an entire section of the 1921 edition devoted to “鶹ýվ Yells” to be used in the stands at football games.
* Audio clips were taken from a recording by the Merry Martlets. Presented by the Graduates’ Society of 鶹ýվ, the Merry Martlets appeared courtesy of the 鶹ýվ Choral Society under the direction of Gifford Mitchell. Copyright 鶹ýվ.
