Notre Dame Band - obnoxiously good
So now that UTL II is over, Michigan's won (HELL YEAH) and we're all basking in the pleasant glow of victory, one thing I noticed during the game was how loud Notre Dame's band was. I mean from the student section you could hear them from the opposite corner of the stadium. I could barely even hear our band even though I was seated almost right behind them.
You heard the contrast in the halftime show, too. When Notre Dame was doing their number I remember thinking to myself, "Huh. I can actually hear the songs they're playing." Of course they got booed as they entered the stadium, and again to a lesser extent as they started their halftime performance, but after they were done I actually heard applause for them. I joined in. Hey, they earned it. They were good. (I feel okay saying this since we won.)
Anyone else, or am I Irish-crazy?
September 8th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
They were using SHEET MUSIC. That's some high-school level stuff right there.
September 8th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
Seriously, my high school band made us get rid of our sheet music before the football season started
September 8th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
played trumpet in HS and the only people that used sheet music were....well no one. maaaybe a person here or there that just joined, but even the freshman were expected to memorize it.
LOLCHICKENS
September 8th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
This is exactly the issue. The people sitting behind the ND band would think the Michigan band was considerably louder than the ND band.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:21 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
I sit in the lower half of section 4 and all I ever hear is the visiting band, especially one like Notre Dame's, constantly blaring out shit between every fricking play. So damn annoying.
September 8th, 2013 at 3:44 PM ^
row 10. The visiting band is always annoying. I did see them using sheet music most of the time. However, I have seen every opposing band use sheet music so I am not sure that is a good measure.
I hear our band about as equal volume as the opposing band that plays abot 15 feet in front of me. I will say that the ND fans were much like Husker fans: polite and respectful. There was only one instance where I was annoyed. This was when when we had an injury time-out and they took the opportunity to cheer "Lets Go Irish". I thought some of our fans were going to jump a Blue Haired Couple sitting next to me as they joined in the chant. They did not stop when it was mentioned that we have an injured player on the field.
September 8th, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^
"However, I have seen every opposing band use sheet music"
That's not true.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:14 PM ^
Christ almighty I am sorry to hear your placement. Two years ago we were about five rows behind you. The lack of a visibility, plus the incredible obnoxiousness of the ND band, made it very hard to convince my kid we should stay for the second half.
Luckily we moved, stayed, and the rest is cheerful history. But I don't think I could stay in your seats for the ND game.
September 9th, 2013 at 1:01 AM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 9:42 PM ^
Our band seemed louder. Physics
September 8th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 5:44 PM ^
Their blocking wasn't that good and they ran some terrible routes. I can't believe they rolled out with Notre Dame's band again this year. Kelly obviously can't recruit a better band.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 2:43 PM ^
September 9th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
if you cant hear pregame or halftime you might need to get your ears checked out....
September 8th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
I was never in the band, but I'm pretty sure quality is based on a lot more than volume... Plus you not being able to hear our band is based on acoustics, not how loud they are.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:40 PM ^
The last part applies more for the half time show, but you may not know the band continues playing The Victors during the extra point try.
September 8th, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 5:55 PM ^
The volume issue has most definitely NOT been addressed. I sit in Section 12, below the handicap seats, and still can't hear them when they are on the field. I was able to clearly hear the ND band before the game, but our band was nearly inaudible, even when they came to the South endzone. This is not an artifact of the night game, as it was an issue for CMU as well. I know you are a huge MMB fan Bando, but it might be time to stop being an apologist.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:13 PM ^
Absolutely tepid display in my opinion. Shouldn't I be more impressed by a college band than that of my 8th grade grandson? Pittance.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:13 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:28 PM ^
I've always heard the same thing--other bands load up on more horns and that gives you the volume.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^
I was sitting right next to the student section as well, and that has a lot to do with it. Notre Dame's band was pointed right at us essentially, and our band was facing directly away from us. Same thing happens every game, with every visiting band.
As far as them getting applause for the halftime show, they finished with "God Bless America", which is a tough song to boo heavily without seeming like a freedom-hating commie.
They were alright, but it was nothing that wouldn't have happened with any other band.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^
I'm not a big fan of booing a marching band anyway . . . at least, not during the halftime show when they're trying to entertain us.
I do recall though, from previous ND games (I wasn't there last night) that their band would always try to drown our band out when we played "the Victors." That was obnoxious.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
I've been watching the football games and the speakers are facing away from me. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHY I CAN'T HEAR THE GAME THAT WELL?
September 8th, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^
Bwaahahahaha! Its called acoustics!
September 8th, 2013 at 1:21 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
They are always pretty loud. I don't know how or why but its somthing I have always noticed and I have sat in a lot of different areas.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^
I was not impressed with the MMB last night - precision issues in sound production primarily. I did not watch the marching.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:47 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^
Unified attacks on The Victors, for one thing.
September 8th, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
All I'm saying is I've played in UM commencement bands that played The Victors and the traditional music with more precision and tone quality, and I know that the MMB can be better. It's not 1997 bad but it's not where it could be.
September 8th, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^
September 8th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
We get one rehearsal to put together the music, and the ensemble is 80 musicians. So, it's not exactly small, but we are music majors as a rule.
1997 bad is elevation of volume over all other sound qualities like intonation, balance, and blend.
1:17 - Splatter.
2:05 - Awkward breath on the 2nd "Hail."
7:55 - Good effort but it doesn't come together until the 2nd "Hail."
8:44 - again, another awkward breath in the middle of a phrase, chopping a half note this time.