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A Historically Black College and University marching band (also known as a HBCU band) is the marching band sponsored by a historically black college or university. A distinctive "HBCU-style" of marching band originated in the American South in the 1940s through the blending of earlier traditions of military music and minstrel shows with a performance repertoire based on popular song.

HBCU bands have traditionally played a major role in fostering school pride and camaraderie. Also they are typically highly anticipated attractions at HBCU athletic events.[1][2][3]

Different studies have linked HBCU band membership with both higher and lower rates of academic achievement versus the at-large student population. Among the predominantly male, African-American membership of the ensembles, they have been theorized to support positive identity formation.

History

Origins

A 1738 statute enacted by the House of Burgesses ordered conscription of "free mulattos" and blacks. Due to concerns of a rebellion, they were used as musicians instead of frontline troops, establishing the military music tradition from which HBCU bands evolved.
HBCU band style was influenced by the minstrel shows of the 19th century.
The first band at an HBCU was established at what is now Tuskegee University (pictured in 1918) in 1890.

Early American military music recruited large numbers of black musicians.[4] A 1738 statute enacted by the Virginia House of Burgesses required military service for “free mulattos, blacks, and Native Americans".[4] Due to government concerns of a domestic rebellion, they were prohibited from carrying arms and were, therefore, exclusively used as "drummers, fifers, trumpeters, or pioneers”.[4] As many as 5,000 African-Americans provided military service during the American War of Independence, including notable musicians such as Barzillai Lew. The tendency to recruit African-Americans into military bands continued after independence; following the War of 1812, a large number of civilian, all-black brass bands formed among veteran military musicians across the United States, but particularly in New Orleans where they often adopted the theatrical styles of minstrel shows.[5]

Early history

Drawing on these traditions, the first HBCU band was established in 1890 at Tuskegee Normal School (later Tuskegee University) under student direction. In 1907 its first professional director, retired U.S. Army Major Nathaniel Clark Smith, was appointed.[5] Ensembles at additional historically black colleges and universities followed. Under the early direction of W.C. Hardy - a former minstrel show musician - Alabama A&M University began performing popular songs of the day in addition to marches, an approach to music selection later popularized among other HBCU and Primarily White Institution (PWI) bands.[6][5][7]

The earliest incarnation of the modern HBCU style of marching band, in which the distinctive high-stepping style coalesced with popular music and elaborate dance routines by both bandsmen and auxiliaries, has been traced to Florida A&M University in the 1940s.[8] Beginning in 1952, under director Conrad Hutchinson, the Grambling State University band cultivated a reputation for extravagant performances that was soon emulated by bands at most other HBCUs.[8][9]

In 1955, the marching band of Tennessee State University became the first HBCU band to appear on national television during their performance at a Chicago Bears NFL game.[10] Six years later, in 1961, the band became the first HBCU band to perform for an inauguration of the President of the United States when it was assigned to the inaugural parade of John F. Kennedy.[10] The Grambling State University marching band provided halftime entertainment at Super Bowl I in 1967, with its performance later named "One of the Top 10 Super Bowl Halftime Shows” by Sports Illustrated.[10]

21st century

As of the 2010s, HBCU bands included those of Grambling State University, Tennessee State University, Norfolk State University, Texas Southern University, South Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Jackson State University, Florida A&M University, Bethune Cookman University, Winston-Salem State University, Fayetteville State University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Southern University and Hampton University.[10][11][12] Some high schools, principally in the American South, have adopted the HBCU style, including Jefferson Davis High School of Montgomery, Alabama and Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia.[5][13]

Characteristics

Drum majors

Drum majors and dancers of Jefferson Davis High School, an HBCU-style high school band, shown during the Rex parade in 2020.
Members of the Florida A&M University marching band perform during a "breakdown" in 2008.
The Winston-Salem State University band in 2019, exhibiting the high step with upper body swing typical of HBCU band marching style.
Snare drummers of the Southern University marching band pictured in 2019.
The drum major of Southern University pictured in 2019.

Drum majors in HBCU bands fill a different role than those of other marching bands which use the position to control tempo and impart field direction.[14] The role of HBCU drum majors evolved from that of leaders of bands in black minstrel parades who were performers themselves.[14][5] In the black minstrel theatrics of the 19th century, according to Lee Evans citing DeVeaux and Giddins, "'black people realized that they could perform their ‘blackness’ for money,' so they began dancing and singing and doing comedy skits in the streets'.[15][16][a]

Instrumentation

Many HBCU bands feature an instrumentation that privileges brass instruments to maximize sound and create a "brighter" musical tone. Snare drummers typically use a traditional, military-style sling drum instead of the harness drum typical of contemporary American marching bands.[17]

Marching style and drill technique

The marching style of HBCU bands has been described as "show style" and represents a modification of the high-step marching style popularized by the bands of the Big Ten Conference in the early 20th century with the addition of an upper body swing.[18][17] During field shows, HBCU bands perform geometric maneuvers featuring straight lines based on the four-person squad system of drill influenced by former Purdue University band director Bill Moffit's text Patterns in Motion.[17] These drills are interspersed with energetic dance routines known as breakdowns.[18][17]

Repertoire

From an early stage, HBCU bands have placed a focus on performing a musical repertoire reflective of the popular song of the day, a practice later adopted by PWI bands. This has recently included a heavy emphasis on R&B and Hip Hop chart toppers. HBCU bands are also known for "punches" – short, musical pieces drawn from the melody of songs associated with popular culture such as television and movie theme songs. During stoppages in game play these will be performed in alternating sequences with the opposing band, with the ensemble able to perform the most without repeating any "winning" the battle.[9][19]

Terminology

HBCU bands employ a distinct nomenclature. Performances are called battles, while the energetic participation or approval of the crowd is known as house and ensembles attempt to "win house".[20] Performing a "punch" is called throwing, as in "throwing a punch".[19]

Events

The Honda Battle of the Bands is an annual, invitational exhibition of HBCU bands that occurs each spring in Atlanta, Georgia.[21]

Sociological and pedagogical aspects of HBCU bands

Academics and personal development

Negative aspects

Graduation rates among members of HBCU marching bands tend to lag behind those of the general population of the institutions.[22]

Positive aspects

Research by Henry Taylor Frierson concluded that HBCU marching bands represent an ideal institution for development of black male youth by supporting positive identify formation and a customized support structure.[23]

A 2011 study by Christopher Jett concluded that HBCU participation could be linked to "producing successful African American male mathematics majors".[24]

Cultural status

A 2009 study found that 50.2-percent of incoming, current, and former students and faculty at HBCUs listed the reputation of the school's marching band as a leading factor in their decision to attend or work at that institution, making it the fourth most cited factor after genuine interest, cultural connection, and location.[23] Meanwhile, 83.9-percent stated their feeling that most people attended HBCU football games only to see the marching band perform.[23] In 2018, the Associated Press observed that "on some black college campuses, marching band members are more popular than basketball or football players".[25]

Gender roles

The position of drum major at HBCUs has traditionally been dominated by men.[26] In 2018, the first female drum major at Florida A&M University was selected in that band's 72-year history.[27]

Hazing

Several sources have reported on endemic hazing within HBCU bands.[28][29] In 2011, NPR reported that – at one school – new members "had to face choreographed assaults, with two-by-fours, belts, baseball bats ... suffering literally hundreds of blows from their older compatriots".[28] Hazing-related deaths and injuries within the bands of Southern University and Florida A&M University have led to criminal prosecutions.[28]

A limited survey conducted in 2013 by Bruce Allen Carter of the National Council on the Arts found that gay males who were members of an HBCU band experienced "ever-present anxiety" when participating in band-related activities.[30] Each survey participant also reported being subject to hazing that was so "shameful and embarrassing" that it was "not something they ever discussed".[30]

The Red Dawg Order, a student anti-hazing organization established in 1994 within the Florida A&M University marching band, subsequently morphed into a "ganglike organization" that established a presence in nearly every HBCU band in the United States and became – in some bands – a leading instigator of hazing.[31][32]

Racial issues

HBCU bands tend to be predominantly African-American, though occasionally persons of other races have been members. According to a 2012 study, white students attending an HBCU generally avoided social activities and focused on academics, however, if they were a member of the school's band they "appeared to develop strong relationships with their peers" within the ensemble.[33]

In 2001, Matt Smith became the first white drum major at Hampton University.[11] According to Smith, opposing schools would use Smith's race to demean the group as a whole.[11]

From 2018 to 2020, Justin Heideman, who is white, was head drum major of the Jefferson Davis High School (Montgomery, Alabama) marching band, an HBCU-style high school band.[13] In the second year of Heideman's tenure, after video of one of the band's performances was posted online, Heideman encountered – according to USA Today – "hate, ignorance and prejudice" in a minority of online comments to the video, with some suggesting "there was something heinous about a group of black children following the lead of a white boy".[13] However, Jefferson Davis students defended Heideman's role and the majority of comments offered "praise and positive social engagement".[13] Writing in Teen Vogue, Danielle Kwateng-Clark later lauded Heideman as a positive example of "a white person ... existing in predominantly Black space".[34]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Depending on the source, this either mimicked blackface Minstrelsy, or blackface Minstrelsy mimicked it.

References

  1. ^ "Tradition on the Move, HBCU Bands Tell the Story". 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ "The Hampton University Marching Force is Parading Through New York City". Forbes.
  3. ^ "The Significance of HBCU Bands". 11 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b c O'Bannon, Ricky. "Composers in Uniform". bsomusic.org. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e Gasman, M. (2014). Opportunities and Challenges at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Springer. pp. 133–136. ISBN 978-1137480415.
  6. ^ Faussett, Richard (December 17, 2011). "Hazing investigation is sour note for Georgia marching bands". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  7. ^ Wootson, Cleve (February 3, 2018). "From Grambling State to Lady Gaga: The Super Bowl halftime show's humble history". Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "History of African-American Marching Bands". Birmingham Times. August 18, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Kernodle, Tammy (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Music. ABC-CLIO. pp. 316–317. ISBN 978-0313342004.
  10. ^ a b c d "Top 10 Legendary HBCU Marching Bands". Philadelphia Tribune. October 8, 2018. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Smith, Matt (July 29, 2010). "It's Showtime". Halftime Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  12. ^ White, Herbert (August 25, 2014). "At HBCUs, Band Members Are Halftime Heroes". Our State Magazine. Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Toran, Andre (December 14, 2019). "'Vanilla Funk': Hostile responses to viral video miss real story of white boy, black band". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Whitley, Carla Jean (October 30, 2015). "HBCU bands are as—or more—popular than their football teams. Here's why". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  15. ^ Erickson, Shannon (2008-06-27). "James A. Bland". blackpast.org. BlackPast. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Evans, Lee. "What was Minstrelsy?". JAZZed Magazine. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d Katzman, Christine (March 17, 2009). "The Art and Technique of HBCU". Halftime Magazine. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Ferris, William (2010). The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture: Volume 14: Folklife. University of North Carolina Press. p. 322. ISBN 978-0807898550.
  19. ^ a b Lewis, William (October 17, 2001). "Stepping Tall". Indy Week. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  20. ^ Jackson, Harvey (2014). The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture: Volume 16: Sports and Recreation. University of North Carolina Press. p. 145. ISBN 978-1469616766.
  21. ^ Willis, Kiersten (January 23, 2020). "Honda Battle of the Bands returns to Atlanta this weekend". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  22. ^ Hollinger, Michelle (December 29, 2015). "Bethune Cookman University Drum Majors Fulfill Graduation Promise". South Florida Times. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  23. ^ a b c Frierson, Henry Taylor (2009). Black American Males in Higher Education: Research, Programs and Academe. Emerald Group Publishing. pp. 14–18. ISBN 978-1849506434.
  24. ^ Jett, Christopher (2013). "HBCUs Propel African American Male Mathematics Majors". Journal of African American Studies. 13 (2): 189. doi:10.1007/s12111-011-9194-x. S2CID 120138576.
  25. ^ Landrum, Jonathan (April 10, 2018). "For marching bands at historically black schools, it's 'about the showmanship'". San Jose Mercury News. Associated Press. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  26. ^ Graham, Latria (February 17, 2017). "While female drum majors remain rare, NaKia Bryant leads her band to new success". ESPN. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  27. ^ Ellison, Denver (August 1, 2018). "First female drum major at FAMU is from DeKalb". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  28. ^ a b c Deford, Frank (December 7, 2011). "For Some Marching Bands, Hazing Means Brutality". NPR. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  29. ^ Paterson, James (November 8, 2018). "Another student group suspended for hazing — this time, it's the band". Education Dive. Archived from the original on December 27, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  30. ^ a b Carter, Bruce (2013). ""Nothing Better or Worse Than Being Black, Gay, and in the Band": A Qualitative Examination of Gay Undergraduates Participating in Historically Black College or University Marching Bands". Journal of Research in Music Education. 61 (1): 38–39. doi:10.1177/0022429412474470. S2CID 145487053.
  31. ^ Inabinett, Curtis (2016). The Legendary Florida A&M University Marching Band The History of "The Hundred". Page. p. 233. ISBN 978-1683489818.
  32. ^ Sanders, Topher (February 4, 2012). "FAMU's Red Dawgs started as shelter from hazing; now part of school's darkest period". Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  33. ^ Carter, Joelle Davis (2012). "An Analysis of White Student Engagement at Public HBCUs" (PDF). Educational Foundations: 55. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-01-01. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  34. ^ Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (November 8, 2019). "White Drum Major John Heiderman Used His Virality for Good". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  35. ^ "News - Entertainment, Music, Movies, Celebrity". Archived from the original on 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  36. ^ "New Content Initiative Highlights Marching Band Culture at Historically Black Colleges and Universities". espnpressroom.com. ESPN. 2017-10-13. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
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