Old Nassau

rdf:langString Old Nassau

rdf:langString Old Nassau

rdf:langString Old Nassau

rdf:langString Carl A. Langlotz

rdf:langString Harlan Page Peck

rdf:langString April 1859

rdf:langString Carl A. Langlotz

rdf:langString During the winter and spring of the year 1859, some of the seniors and tutors use to meet with me in a little old house on Williams Street, just east of the college grounds, where we use to smoke and sing college songs over our glass of beer. When 'Old Nassau' was written, we tried to sing it to the air of 'Auld Lang Syne', but found this utterly unsuitable. Mr. William C. Stitt ['56], one of the company,...suggested that I should write original music to the words...my memory was strengthened from day to day by Stitt who requested it for tomorrow...there I was sitting on my front porch smoking my peaceful pipe, when energetic Stitt arrived on the scene, and asked me in an off-hand way if I had anything particular to do that afternoon. I answered 'No'. Immediately he produced pencil and music paper saying 'Here is Old Nassau. Now do as you promised and put it the music to it.' I did write the music then and there, with Stitt standing guard over me.

rdf:langString "Old Nassau" has been Princeton University's alma mater (school song) since 1859. Harlan Page Peck was the lyricist and Carl A. Langlotz (sometimes Karl Langlotz) was the composer. The lyrics were changed in 1987 to address sexism at the newly co-educational institution. For a brief time the song was sung to the melody of "Auld Lang Syne" before Langlotz wrote the music on demand. The lyrics were the result of a songwriting contest by the Nassau Literary Review.