Category: Uncategorized

Evolving Emotions: The Fog

EKArts 4 Comments

Presences are unannounced in the dark.

Even more so in the fog

A blur of beings rushes by

Without ever crossing my eye

Each step is a careful one

Each breath, hesitant

For I am subject to the misty blindfold

Cloaked 

I embark.

 

In a transition

A surge of events passes me by

What I could do

I can’t.

What I wanted

I can’t have.

I don’t see them 

I didn’t see them

If only by my volition.

 

They move in my view for a moment

So fleeting

They depart 

Without thought

Without recognition

Without realizing

Helpless I am in the fog

For I am a proponent.

 

There is a strange relief

I am concealed

Shrouded in mysterious droplets

They cast a hold on me

Around my every curve 

I am hidden from the world

Away from the mind’s conception and belief.

 

Who I am

Whom I cherish

What I am capable of

What ineptitudes I lock away

The experiences I carry

The soul embedded within

A perfect bubble

A precious dam.

 

A thinning

A receding

A panic

A terror

A grief

A mourning

A spinning.

 

Fog withdraws

Visions clear

Fear resides

In the cavity once hidden

Now in full display

Pleading for a pause.

 

The whole world stares anew

 

The Rise of the Band Geeks: Preface: The Unofficial Marching Band Glossary

Alias 2 Comments
An image taken before the start of the Michigan football game against WMU. Photo taken by an MMB alumnus very dear to the author.

Ah, I see you’ve stumbled upon my humble abode.  Welcome to the column of all things marching band, or, should I say, the column of all things marching band according to Alias.  Here, you shall find short fiction and poetry centered around the theme of marching band, though for today I begin by introducing some common band terminology:

 

Band Director (n.) —  The Fearless Leader.

Band Geek (n.) — A member of the marching band; a super cool person who may be sitting next to you in your creative writing class.

Brass (n.) — A category of instruments constituting the alto horns, euphoniums, sousaphones/tubas, trombones, and trumpets.  Trumpets think they’re the heart of the band, but we all know it’s the drumline* (see below).

Drill (n.) — The set of movements constituting the actual marching part of marching band; something you should already have memorized.

Dot (n.) — The specific spot on the field you’re supposed to reach, or “make,” within a set number of counts (ie, 16 counts means you take 16 steps to get from one dot to another ); someone is said to be “on their dot” when they make said spot.  It happens once in a while.

Drumline (n.) — God’s gift to marching band.

Drum Major (n.) — A rad person, usually an upperclassman, who leads and represents the marching band.  Ironically, the DM is almost never a percussionist.

Flags (n.) — The section of people who dance using flags and enhance the visual effects of performances.  They make it look easy, but it’s highly technical and difficult.

Field (n.) — What’s the football team doing on the band field?

Fight Song (n.) — A song, typically a march, played at sporting events to celebrate victories and generate hype.  The Victors (see below) is objectively the best of these.

Marching Band (n.) — A sport that involves playing fully memorized music whilst marching around the field in perfect time while in uniform (see below); definitely not a cult.

Michigan Marching Band (MMB) (n.) — The greatest marching band in all of human history.

Michigan Stadium/The Big House (n.) — The place where over 100,000 fans gather on Saturdays to see the marching band.

Practice (v.) — What you should be doing instead of reading this glossary.

Rank  (n.) — Subdivisions into twelve or so performers, each with its own leader or two; in drumline, each individual instrument is considered a rank.

Reserves (n.) — The people who did not make the performance for this week’s show; in drumline, the people who don’t play in halftime at all for the whole season.

Section (n.) — A group of people who all play the same instrument; the group of people who constitute the holy order known colloquially as the drumline.  Each section has a section leader.

Shako (n.) — The epic hats band kids wear.

Show (n.) — The sweet medley of songs performed at halftime during home games.

Social Life (n.) — Never heard of it.

Temptation & War Chant (T & W) (n.) — Two glorious songs always played consecutively because, as we all know, you can’t have one without the other.

The Victors (n.) — The divinely inspired fight song wrought by Louis Elbel in 1898; the best college fight song ever written; God’s theme song.  Comes in several flavors, including “As Written” and “Parking Lot Victors.”

Twirlers (n.) — A small section of cool people who twirl batons that can be attached to LED lights or even set on fire.

Uniform (n.) — The awesome getup the band wears on game days.

Woodwinds (n.) — The piccolos (pics), clarinets (sticks), and saxophones are all considered woodwinds, and often play the melody or sixteenth notes.  These instruments will be damaged by the evil entity commonly known as rain.

 

*This information was derived from a reliable MMB trumpet alumnus the author holds in high regard.**

**The author respects the trumpet section and loves the trumpet part of “The Victors” (see above).

Scribble #1: Disorder

Sydney Braun 1 Comment

“I’ve been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand.”

This week’s Scribble includes lyrics from Disorder by Joy Division, released in 1979, and is inspired by the spirals I tend to get caught in when I spend too much time in my head, something I’ve caught myself doing a few times this week. Lead singer, the late Ian Curtis, once said “All my lyrics are open to interpretation by the individual and imply many different meanings, therefore their relevance is purely subjective.” This makes the lyrics perfect for me to interpret in the way I need them most right now: trying to find my way back to myself in a time of stress and anxiety. 

“Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?”

This is my first semester of college with in-person classes, and, sometimes, balancing schoolwork with my social life isn’t easy. With the stress of midterm exams, the deadlines for papers approaching, the countless clubs that I am a member of (I adore all of them, but they are still commitments!), the pandemic, illnesses, and other conflicts in our community and world, I haven’t quite felt like myself this past week. 

“Lose sensations, spare the insults, leave them for another day.”

Luckily, for every emotion, I am always able to find a song that, while not necessarily alleviating my stress, makes me feel understood. Today, I found catharsis by sitting down, putting on my headphones, playing Disorder on repeat, and leaving the deadlines and stress behind to tap into my creativity and draw for a while. It’s little things like this that help me relax and reconnect with myself.

“”I’ve got the spirit, lose the feeling, take the shock away.”

Having a few off-days has caused me to focus on gratitude, which is one of the most effective tactics that I use to help me feel like myself again. It’s led me to reflect on how grateful I am to be here – at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, learning, making friends, creating art, expressing myself, and being surrounded by people who bring out the best in me. I’m so incredibly fortunate to be somewhere that helps me be my best self, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to share my art, and my emotions, with you. 

Listen to Disorder here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BIElTtN6Fs

The Poetry Snapshot: Strangers at the Train Station

nehaallathur Leave a comment

Between two rolling hills, the first glimpse of metal tracks emerge.
The platform is scattered with people ready to leave,
but I am sitting on the verge.

Lima, Ohio

Counting each track as I wait for some peace of mind.
Luggage filled with the memories I cannot leave behind,
it’s almost too heavy for me to carry.
So perhaps I should stay back with my luggage,
or convince myself my destination is the wrong location.

I’d leave comfort for curiosity at this station.
But then two eyes fixate on my visible trepidation.

Fleeting strangers he seeks out on the sidewalk,
he gave me a spotlight in the comfort of small talk.
Because those I love and hold so dear
are always going to stand so near,
that I forget beauty from the horizon.

Waiting for the train becomes a journey in itself.
Standing with no expectations,
my fears are now painted over with new conversations.

To inspire without intimacy,
connect with no intricacy,
I remember a soft smile and hazel eyes,
yet you will never be named.

This moment passes by with the train,
and I find peace in the transience.
Our lives never need to cross paths again,
this fragile tie can remain undefined.
Confined to the walls of the New York Train Station.

I eventually get on my train, ready to leave.

The Bells Above Campus

marfin 1 Comment

If you’ve spent time on campus, you’re probably familiar with the chiming of bells that mark the hour. What you may not be familiar with, however, is that the bells are more than merely a way to mark time, but also a hefty instrument with a long history, otherwise known as the carillon.

According to the UM Carillons page, “A carillon is an instrument of at least 23 bronze bells, arranged in chromatic sequence, so tuned as to produce concordant harmony when multiple bells are sounded together.” Simply put, the bells are tuned specifically to be an instrument; the pitches they produce are intentional. 

On the carillon, the bells are attached to keyboard consoles consisting of a row of batons played with the hands, known as manuals, as well as foot pedals that double part of the manuals’ range. By momentarily depressing a manual or pedal, the player rings the corresponding bell.

The history of carillons began in western Europe several centuries ago, where they were symbols of a town’s wealth and were played on market days and holidays. They have since evolved over time, with most innovation taking place in Europe, becoming what we know them as today. 

On the UM campus, we have two grand carillons (more than 50 bells each): the Baird Carillon housed in Burton Memorial Tower on Central Campus, and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Carillon within the homonymous tower on North Campus.

Central Campus’ Burton Memorial Tower was built in memory of UM President Marion Leroy Burton. The idea of constructing a tower had been tossed around for decades but was finally made a reality upon the gifting of the carillon bells by UM’s first athletic director, Charles Baird, in 1935. The tower was formally dedicated in December of 1936. For more information about this tower, this link has a brief history and images of the building process. 

North Campus’ Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower was built in 1996 as a memorial to UM alumnus Robert H. Lurie, and was designed by another UM alumnus, architect Charles Moore. The lowest and largest bells of the carillon are all named after a family member: Robert, Ann, and each of their children.

Contrary to popular belief, the music you hear on the campus carillons is not automated! In fact, the only automated sounds are the aforementioned time markers every fifteen minutes, formally known as Westminster Quarters. Otherwise, you are likely hearing the playing of Dr. Tiffany Ng, Associate Professor of carillon and university carillonist, one of her students, or a local or visiting carillonist. 

In the carillon studio, each student takes private lessons with Dr. Ng and attends a weekly studio class, in which they perform in front of and receive feedback from their peers within the carillon program. This allows students to improve their listening skills, as well as gain new perspectives on their pieces and progress. 

Some students who play and/or enjoy the carillon have formed the Carillon Guild at the University of Michigan. They’ve held themed concerts throughout the past school year, including one for Halloween and another for the Fourth of July, as well as a mini-concert on the Kerrytown Chime. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for details about when they’ll be performing again!

Additionally, keep checking the UM Carillons social media, as information may change, but there are currently daily weekday concerts at noon at either tower. You can find more information on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as performances on their Soundcloud and YouTube channel. Images above are courtesy of Reian Zhang (first) and SMTD (rest). 

time for some summer reading!

Joe Leave a comment

Welcome to arts, ink., where our student artists and writers are given a forum to illuminate the Michigan student experience through art. Take a few minutes this summer to sit back, relax, and look back on some of our favorite posts from the last year by perusing the Summer 2021 Reading List tag!

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