Traditons - Trumpets in the Dome

Trumpets in the Dome

In 1993, on the Friday before the Florida State game, some Trumpets gathered outside the Administration Building, in the shadow of the Golden Dome, and played the Alma Mater. I guess we hoped for a blessing. It was a beautiful moment, as the noble strains of Trumpets echoed across campus in the still night air, and a small crowd gathered to listen. When Notre Dame upset Florida State the next day, I'm sure it had nothing at all to do with our playing the Alma Mater. But we liked the idea anyway, and played the song by the Dome again after the game.

This following year, the tradition of playing the Alma Mater at the Dome continued. We gather together and perform beneath the Dome in the Main Building at 4:00 pm before every Friday practice. On gameday's, we play inside the Dome itself, Seniors and Juniors on the 4th floor, underclassmen on the 3rd. When we're in tune, the single-part melody played by one kind of instrument sounds wonderfully peaceful, sort of like a Gregorian Chant. When we're out of tune, which is more often, it still sounds pretty good.

After the last game of this season, the section goes to the Dome to perform one final time. Seniors listen as the underclassmen play the Alma Mater and Victory March to salute them. It is a great way to mark the end of four fantastic years.

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