The Sounds of “Script Ohio†Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The “Incomparable Script Ohio” is performed to the French military march, Le Regiment. It began as a French poem called “Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse” written by Paul Cezano in 1867. In 1871, composer Jean Robert Planquette composed a melody to go with the poem, and it became a favorite in France. In 1879, Joseph Francois Rauski arranged the song for military band.
The first “Script Ohio” was performed in 1936 when OSU beat Indiana 7-0. Professor Eugene Weigel (after whom Weigle Hall is named), was the director for OSU’s marching band from 1929 to 1939. He had played in a Navy band during WW I, and was likely familiar with Le Regiment from playing with that band. The song had been played by the concert band at OSU, then was used for the marching band.
The sheet music for Le Regiment is permanently out of print; however, sound recordings are available on at least three CD’s: “Buckeye Brass,” ”Pride of the Buckeyes, Vol 2,” and “I Wanna Go Back.” Each of these CDs also features many other OSU marching band favorites!