"Varsity" is the alma mater song of the
University of Wisconsin–Madison
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...
. The ending lyrics of the song are accompanied by the singers waving their caps held in their right hands.
History
The "Varsity Toast" was composed in 1898 by Henry Dyke Sleeper, an instructor for the University’s School of Music. The work was adapted from the Latin hymn ''Domine Salvam Fac'' written by
Charles Gounod
Charles-François Gounod (; ; 17 June 181818 October 1893), usually known as Charles Gounod, was a French composer. He wrote twelve operas, of which the most popular has always been ''Faust (opera), Faust'' (1859); his ''Roméo et Juliette'' (18 ...
.
[Varsity](_blank)
/ref> Over the years "Varsity Toast" has been shortened to "Varsity."[Who Knew?](_blank)
/ref>
History of the arm wave
The arm wave was inspired by the striking image of the University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
students waving their caps as they sang their alma mater after losing to the University of Illinois football team. The image stuck with Raymond Dvorak, then assistant band director for the University of Illinois.Traditions
/ref> In 1934 Dvorak became the band director for the University of Wisconsin. That same year, following a speech by the University’s president, Glenn Frank
Glenn Frank (October 1, 1887 – September 15, 1940) was a president of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and ''The Century Magazine''s editor-in-chief. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1912 and became Edward Filene's personal a ...
, Dvorak instructed the students to watch for his cue to wave their hands as they sang the ending lyrics to "Varsity". The wave caught on and is now a tradition at the University of Wisconsin.
Lyrics
U-rah-rah! Wisconsin! Sing!
Varsity! Varsity!
U-rah-rah! Wisconsin,
Praise to thee we sing!
Praise to thee, our Alma Mater,
U-rah-rah! Wisconsin!
See also
*"On, Wisconsin
"On, Wisconsin!" is the fight song of the Wisconsin Badgers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. A version with modified lyrics is the official state song of Wisconsin.
"On, Wisconsin!" was also the cry that Arthur MacArthur Jr. used in th ...
"
References
External links
"Varsity" history and mp3 files
"Varsity" lyrics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varsity (Toast)
University of Wisconsin–Madison
American college songs
Alma mater songs