The alma mater of the University of Pittsburgh was adopted soon after the university changed its name in 1908 from the Western University of Pennsylvania to its current moniker. Lyrics were written by George M. P. Baird, class of 1909 and were set to the tune of what was then the Austrian National Anthem (adopted as the German National Anthem in 1922). A new tune for the "Alma Mater" hymn was composed by Charles W. Scovel, class of 1883, but it was not widely adopted and was either lost or became obscure.1916 Owl Yearbook
Use and recordings
The "Alma Mater" acts as an official anthem of the university and often is played to open and/or close various University functions, including athletic contests such as football and basketball games. It is more formal than the traditional fight songs such as "Hail to Pitt" and the "Victory Song", and is typically played and sung in a more reverent fashion than other university songs.
One of the first professional recordings of "Alma Mater", along with "Hail to Pitt", was by the Criterion Quartet on Gennett Records in 1920Gennett 1000 series Numerical Listings, accessdate=2009-02-11Labelliste von 'Gennett 10000 vis 10093', accessdate=2009-02-08 During the 1940s, Joseph Wood conducted a recording of a collection of songs entitled Songs of the University of Pittsburgh that featured Walter Scheff, Ralph Nyland, and Michael Stewart. Released on two 78-rpm discs by Republic records, the album featured "Pitt Alma Mater", "Hail to Pitt", "The Panther", and the "Pitt Victory Song". Various compilations by the Pitt Band and Pitt Men's Glee Club have also been produced that have included the "Alma Mater". Around the 1952–1953 school year, the Pitt Band and the Pitt Men's Glee Club collaborated to release a compilation songs entitled Songs of Pitt on RCA Victor Records.The Owl 1953, University of Pittsburgh, page 219, Documenting Pitt, University of Pittsburgh Digital Library, accessdate=2009-02-08 More recent compilations included two versions of the "Alma Mater" in a 1987 three record set entitled Proud Traditions on the Europadisk Ltd. label that celebrated the bicentennial of Pitt's founding, Pitt Spirit released on audio cassette in 1989,Pitt Spirit, The University of Pittsburgh Bands, O'Neill Stanford, Director, ATR, 1989 Proudly Pittsburgh in 1997, and in the late 2000s Pitt Pride! and Panther Fans...Are You Ready? on compact disc.Pitt Pride, The University of Pittsburgh Pep Band, ATR, 2007 Today, the Pitt's "Alma Mater" is available for purchase in a variety of formats including compact discs, MP3s, and ringtones.
Lyrics
The lyrics to the University of Pittsburgh Alma Mater are attributable to the 1916 edition of The Owl student yearbook. The song is to be sung con spirito (as a triumphant anthem, not as a dirge). It comprises three verses, the first of which is sometimes repeated after the third.
First stanza In some printings of the Alma Mater, the first verse are repeated at the end of the song. This first stanza is the most commonly performed portion of the song and is typically played or sung at formal and informal university events.
Alma Mater, wise and glorious, Child of Light and Bride of Truth, Over fate and foe victorious, Dowered with eternal youth, Crowned with love of son and daughter, Thou shalt conquer as of yore, Dear old Pittsburgh, Alma Mater, God preserve Thee evermore!
Second stanza The lyrics of the second stanza refer to the geographical location of the university in Pittsburgh and that city's role in the early nation as the "Gateway to the West". "First beyond the mountains founded" refers to the fact that the University of Pittsburgh is the oldest continuously chartered institution of learning in the U.S., west of the Allegheny Mountains. The verse stating "twin rivers forest bounded, Merge and journey toward the sea" refers to the confluence of the Allegheny River from the northeast and Monongahela River from the southeast to form the Ohio River which eventually merges into the Mississippi River that runs in the Gulf of Mexico. The "dawning of the nation" refers to the cities establishment as a fort and trading post prior to the American Revolution and the founding of the school in 1787, just before the beginning of the Constitutional Convention, and to the "rough-hewn habitation" refers to the mostly log and wooden structures that made up the early city at this time, including the school's own origins in a log cabin.
First beyond the mountains founded, Where the West-road opens free, When twin rivers forest bounded, Merge and journey toward the sea, In the dawning of the nation Ere the clouds of strife had cleared, 'Rose Thy rough-hewn habitation, By our prophet fathers reared.
Third stanza In the third stanza, "All who gather at Thy knee, Castes and classes, creeds and races, Mother, are as one to Thee" references the long history of diversity in the university's student body as the first African-American student attended the school in 1829Sharon S. Blake, New Pitt Documentary to Be Screened Feb. 4 Blue Gold & Black: From Doorway to Distinction is University’s 2009 K. Leroy Irvis Black History Month Program, 2009-01-26, accessdate=2009-02-11 and the first women in 1895. "Gold and Blue" refer to the school's colors, which were chosen sometime prior to the twentieth century when the university was known as the Western University of Pennsylvania.University Courant, Vol. 4, No. 7, October 1890, pg 98
Close Thy mother-love embraces All who gather at Thy knee, Castes and classes, creeds and races, Mother, are as one to Thee; Thou who unto knowledge bore us, In the good old days long gone, Raise Thy Gold and Blue high o'er us, Land and we will follow on.
Music
The official alma mater of the University of Pittsburgh is set to the tune of Joseph Haydn's 1797 music for "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" ("God save Francis the Emperor") and was used as the official anthem of the Austrian emperor until the end of the monarchy in 1918. Haydn also used the tune in the second movement of one of his string quartets, the "Kaiserquartett". It was adopted as the music for the German national anthem, "Das Deutschlandlied", in 1922 during the time of the Weimar Republic and is still used as the German national anthem today. The tune is also used in the English-speaking world as a hymn tune, often used for the hymn "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" by John Newton. In this context, the tune is called "Austria", "Austrian Hymn", or "Emperor's Hymn" The tune is also used for the hymn "Not Alone for Mighty Empire" by William P. Merrill.
Western University of Pennsylvania Prior to 1908, the university was known as the Western University of Pennsylvania (W.U.P.), which was often termed "Wup" for short. The lyrics for the Alma Mater for W.U.P., per the 1907 The Owl student yearbook, are below.The Owl (1907), junior class of the Western University of Pennsylvania, pg. 15, accessdate=2009-02-11 The references to the old name of the school in every stanza of the song suggest that, upon the university taking the name of the University of Pittsburgh in 1908, that a desire grew to replace it with a new Alma Mater.
ALMA MATER I. Have you heard the glad refrain? We will sing it once again, Singing for Western Pennsylvania. With our loyal comrades true We will cheer the gold and blue, Cheering for Western Pennsylvania.
Chorus. Hail, Alma Mater, Thy sons cheer thee now, To thee, W-U-P, All foemen must bow; Victorious forever They colors shall be, And ever shall wave in victory
II. Every morn our colors rise In the blue and golden skies, Shining for Western Pennsylvania, And the love in every soul Brings us nearer to the goal- Vict'ry for Western Pennsylvania
III. Every man shall play his part; Each hath love within his heart, Love for old Western Pennsylvania Dear old Wup shall never fear While a thousand voices cheer, Cheer for old Western Pennsylvania.
IV. Let the echo then resound With the joyous gladsome sound, Singing for Western Pennsylvania Loyalty each breast shall sway, Hand and heart shall meet to-day, Cheering for Western Pennsylvania.
Chant. Western Pennsylvania, All Hail to thee; Ever beloved They name shall be. Honored in memory Thy name we hold; Ever revering The Blue and Gold- Amen.
Alma Mater chants Various lyrics, poems, or chants under the heading or title of "Alma Mater" have appeared throughout the years in various student and school publications. The pervasiveness and use of these lyrics throughout the university is generally unknown.
A Chant The following uncredited Alma Mater: A Chant appeared in front of the 1911 The Owl student yearbook. Published by the junior class, the yearbook chronicles only the second school year in which the university was first known as the University of Pittsburgh following its name change from the Western University of Pennsylvania. Unknown is whether this chant served as a predecessor or candidate Alma Mater for the university.
The lyrics of the chant represent an appreciation for the struggles endured during throughout the history of the university, which had recently moved to a new location in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. This is reflected in the theme of that year's Owl, who was dedicated to "The Builders of the University." Specifically referenced in the third stanza are references to two fires in the university's history: the Great Fire of 1845 that wiped out 20 square blocks of the most valuable part of Pittsburgh and the subsequent fire only four years later in 1849 that destroyed the university and forced a suspension of its operations while it regrouped and rebuilt.
Alma Mater
A Chant
Up from the heart of things Thou hast risen, my beautiful mother, Born with the nation, in strife of Freedom's travail and tears, Formed of the new-world stuff and breath of the great Primeval, Strong in the valiant thews and the heart of the Pioneers.
Blessed are they of old appointed by God for thy keeping, Men of the larger life, world-sculptors, captains, seers Of the time to be, in thy wilderness birth Fruits of this perfect tree, glory of coming years.
Up, through sorrow and toil Thou hast struggled, my beautiful mother, Life wars, lures of the dust, pangs of becoming, flashes Of world-hate conquered and broken, twice purged by refining fires Phoenix-like, dowered with truth, Thou hast risen in strength from the ashes.
Loyal are they and true, the sons of thy blest begetting, Proud with a son's just pride, loving, swift to defend, Doing God's work and thine in the fields of the world forever Till the hand of the sower be stayed and the song of the reaper shall end.
White on thy mountain top thou shinest, my beautiful mother, Tented by sapphire skies and cloudbergs fashioned in gold, Gazing with thoughtful eyes o'er the vale to the world's last border Where the battle of Being is red and the new life wars with the old.
Potent and wise are they who trim thy torch for the burning, Consecrate priests of the truth, masters of lore and deed, Pouring the miracle cruse that richer grows with the pouring, Making the base things high, sowing the perfect seed.
Rise, for thy triumph is come, O my glorious mother, And my city, forsaking her worship of riches and power, Shall leap from her grime and her gold, at Thy bidding stand Inspired, a sister of might in thy conquering hour.
A Chant for Unwreathed Victory