About Us

I'm sure there is a way to describe us, but most say we are just too complex to define in words. The following is an attempt at those words:

If there is one word that is uniquely Baritone that word is “awkward”. We are as awkward as seeing someone riding a razor scooter wearing lederhosen, stillettos, a sombrero, and the spats we wear on game day. Some may even say we are as awkward as thinking about how mermaids mate. In the words of our great leader Dr. Diem, “If the band is the redheaded stepchild of the University, then the Baritones are the awkward redheaded stepchildren of the redheaded stepchildren” (and this coming from a man who can identify the difference between the Federation fonts from Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation). Simply, we are awkward through and through.

We are a foster home for the ragged, meek, and awkward. Not that that’s a bad thing because we all are the same. We are Nerds, Princesses, Farm Boys and Girls, Drummers, Trombones, Clarinets, Hobbits, Jedi, Singers, Flutes, Saxophones, and even a Southern Belle.

We are the kids who sit in the corner of the room at parties, but once there is an awkward break of silence we are the ones who break that silence and make fools of ourselves. We are the friend that everyone has, who is just a little different but always has great stories to tell and many more to create. From the awkward word of the day, to National American University, to the Hokey Pokey; we take pride in our awkwardness. In the words of former Coach Brewster, “WE ARE…” “The awkward stepchildren of the Pride of Minnesota.” We are the Baritones, and WE ROCK OOOUUUUT!!!

The baritones are the section that say “yes,” when other sections said “no.” It doesn’t matter what you played in a former musical life: trombone, clarinet, trumpet, drums, even baritone. Everyone is still equally accepted into the baritone section. It is because of this universal acceptance, this desire to include the meek, the rejected, but at the same time, to steal the best from the trombones and the trumpets, which enforces the intense camaraderie within our section. It is this all inclusiveness that makes the baritone section the most diverse, and yet the most easygoing section in the band. Just look at our music. At times, we must play the base line with the tubas, other times we are part of the trombone section, and sometimes we actually share the melody within the Supersection. For this inter-sectional diversity, we can be proud. Trumpets are always cocky, the drumline is always selective, and the flutes’ arms will always hurt. In no other section is the culture so enhanced by the various experiences we have with other band members, whether in other bands or within our University of Minnesota of Marching Band.

Traditions

Baritone Game

What is your baritone? Mine is usually a xylophone. This game involves facing eachother in a circle and saying what object your baritone is while making an appropriate action.

Monty Python

Coconuts?... Yeah, coconuts. Thanks to Carl Icenogle's talent for making music out of his mind. The baritones have a three part version of the Main Theme from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This makes its appearance at various times throughout the season.

Hokey Pokey

Because inside, we are all still 4 years old. The Baritone's pregame tradition involves forming a circle around a lone player and singing/dancing our own version of the Hokey Pokey.

Stir Stick

Umm... It's cold in Minnesota in the fall and motivation never hurts. Thus, we huddle after Hokey Pokey. 'Nuff Said.

Bloody Daggers

Pregame ritual?... Yes
Whimpy writing across the fingers?... No
Because we rock out . . . HARDCORE.

Baritone Girl Shopping

Because the girls want to look pretty before paddleford.

Baritone Boy Beef Night

The guys get to be manly, because the ladies get to be girly.

Baritone Dinner

Well... we are all starving college students. The tradition of putting somebody's parents on the hook for dinner is as old as college itself.