Word: pierians
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Although Pierian's interest in the feminine sex is nothing new, it has not always been so aesthetic. In the earlier years of its existence, the Sodality regarded the serenading of Boston belles as one of its handsomest traditions. Lantern-lit expeditions of romance-bent musicians would start from Porter's Tavern in North Cambridge, and comb the land from Brattle Street and Brookline to Jamaica Plain and Beacon Hill...
...serious side, Pierian's 19th century exploits were not quite as noteworthy. Its members were famed for their prowess with the pot much more than with the Piccolo. Minutes of many during this "primitive" period read: "The Sodality met, practised, liquored, and adjourned...
...Sodality proclaims itself as not only the oldest instrumental group in America, but also as the original guiding spirit behind such organizations as the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Harvard Glee Club. Evidently, its founders had reason to believe that Pierian would last long, or, at least they did their best to insure it. On the front page of the first volume of its records, the following verse is inscribed...
...group of Pierian Alumni formed the Harvard Musical Association, and it was this organization's influence that prompted Henry Lee Higginson to found the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1881. Prior to this, in 1833, the Sodality had organized Harvard's first Glee Club, which, although prosperoous for only ten years, is still the perous for only ten years, is still the Club...
Singing talents could hardly remain quiescent and undiscovered in a time when serenading was popular and Boston had so many pretty girls, and about 1858, a separate Glee Club was formed. This group gave many joint concerts with Pierian, and the two groups would go out troubadoring many times until "the stupid interference of the officers of the law" finally caught up with the customs and broke it for good...