“Carmen Ohio†for Piano! Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Have you ever noticed that OSU’s “Carmen Ohio” has a familiar tune. If so, you may remember it from the hymn tune, “Madrid.” The hymn text most often used for “Madrid” is “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”.
The tune was used by Fred Cornell, Ohio State’s first cheerleader, to write the words for “Carmen, Ohio.”
In 1902, Fred was on a train coming back to Columbus from a football game in Ann Arbor, MI, where Michigan had just crushed OSU 86-0 when he wrote the words for “Carmen Ohio”.
“Carmen Ohio” is in a book of songs called “College Songs for School Bands“Â arranged by Paul Yoder. It is in a condensed score format, so the songs can be played on the piano.