Purdue News

A big bass drum birthday celebration Forget a gathering for cake and ice cream. This birthday celebration will last for two weeks. Purdue Bands is gearing up for a two-week party this fall in honor of the 80th birthday of the Big Bass Drum. Legendary band director Paul Spotts Emrick added the giant drum to the Purdue marching band in 1921 and it has been in continuous use ever since. It stands more than 10 feet high on its carriage, measures eight feet in diameter and is nearly four feet wide between its heads. Birthday events will include a Purdue orchestra pops concert featuring the drum on Oct. 14, an educational performance for schoolchildren on Oct. 17, a community birthday party on Oct. 19, workshops at the Imagination Station on Oct. 20 and 21, and a salute to the drum at the Homecoming pregame and halftime shows on Oct. 27. Throughout the fall, information about the drum will be on display in Stewart Center before home football games. Also, groups can arrange for a talk about the drum at meetings or gatherings. And Kappa Kappa Psi, the band honorary, will sell commemorative T-shirts. For more information about the celebrations, call Purdue Bands at (765) 494-3952. PHOTO CAPTION: The Big Bass Drum crew performed with the "All-American" Marching Band at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 1. It is considered an honor and privilege to be part of the drum crew. To the Purdue News and Photos Page