The Whiffenpoofs
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The Yale Whiffenpoofs are the oldest collegiate a cappella group in the US, established in 1909. Best known for "The Whiffenpoof Song," [1] the group is comprised of senior men who compete in the spring of their junior year for 14 coveted spots.[1] The music director and business manager of the group—known in Whiff tradition respectively as the "Pitchpipe" and "Popocatepetl"—are chosen by members of the previous year's group, although an alumni organization maintains close ties with the group.
The Whiffenpoofs have performed for generations at a number of distinguished venues, including Lincoln Center, the White House, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Carnegie Hall and the Rose Bowl. The group has also appeared on television shows such as Jeopardy!, The Today Show, 60 Minutes, Gilmore Girls and The West Wing.
Throughout the school year, the Whiffs traditionally perform Monday nights at Mory's, known more formally as "Mory's Temple Bar," circulating from room to room and regaling members and their guests.[2] Often they take requests from the assembled crowd in exchange for the silver-plated loving cups known as "Mory's cups" (see sidebar).
The Whiffs' best-known alumnus may be Cole Porter, who was a member of the Whiffenpoofs when he was a student at Yale. Today the group often performs Porter songs in tribute.
The Whiffenpoofs donate part of their proceeds each year to the Whiffenpoof Children's Literacy Initiative, which aims to create 15 literacy centers in 12 countries, including the US. They travel extensively during the school year and take a three-month world tour during the summer. At one time most members were full-time students, but today many members take all or part of the year off and are effectively full-time professional Whiffenpoofs.
The Whiffenpoofs' sister group at Yale is Whim 'n Rhythm, an all-senior women's a cappella ensemble.
The word 'whiffenpoof' originated in the 1908 opera Little Nemo by Victor Herbert, based on the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay. [2]
[edit] The Whiffenpoof Song
The Whiffenpoof Song, the group's traditional closing number, was published in sheet music form in 1909. It became a hit first for Rudy Vallee in 1927 and later in 1947 for Bing Crosby. It has also been recorded by Elvis Presley, Count Basie, Perry Como, the Statler Brothers and countless others. Mory's refers to Mory's Temple Bar and Louis to a former owner of Mory's. The chorus is derived from the poem 'Gentlemen Rankers' by Rudyard Kipling, and was featured on the opening sequence of the TV Series Baa Baa Black Sheep.
The Whiffenpoof Song
To the tables down at Mory's,
To the place where Louis dwells,
To the dear old Temple Bar
We love so well,
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled
With their glasses raised on high,
And the magic of their singing casts its spell.
Yes, the magic of their singing
Of the songs we love so well:
"Shall I, Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest.
We will serenade our Louis
While life and voice shall last
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest.
We are poor little lambs
Who have lost our way.
Baa! Baa! Baa!
We are little black sheep
Who have gone astray.
Baa! Baa! Baa!
Gentlemen songsters off on a spree
Damned from here to eternity
God have mercy on such as we.
Baa! Baa! Baa!
[edit] References
- ^ Brozan, Nancy, "Whiffenpoofs: 'Gentlemen songsters' still," Special to the New York Times. New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: Apr 20, 1987. pg. C.12. ISSN: 03624331. ProQuest document ID: 956358391.
- ^ Watson, Ben "Music made in England: Mondays at Mory's," Yankee. Dublin: Jul/Aug 2001.Vol.65, Iss. 6; pg. 65. Source type: Periodical. ISSN: 00440191. ProQuest document ID: 74227092.
