Commemoration ball

A Commemoration ball is a formal ball held by one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in the 9th week of Trinity Term, the week after the end of the last Full Term of the academic year, which is known as "Commemoration Week". Commemoration balls are held by different colleges each year, following a cycle by which each college holds a ball every three years.[1]

Commemoration Week is so known because of the ceremonies in commemoration of the benefactors of the university that are held then, namely the Commemoration Day sermon formerly held (until 2006) on the Sunday, and the Encaenia ceremony (where the annual Creweian Oration in honour of benefactors is given) and garden party on the Wednesday of that week. Commemoration Week was formerly one of two occasions when balls were traditionally held, the other being Eights Week, the 5th week of Trinity term when the Summer Eights rowing races occur. Eights balls are nowadays comparatively rare.

Definition

There is no formal definition of a Commemoration ball, but the usual Oxford convention is to refer only to the larger, triennial balls as Commemoration balls. The dress code is usually white tie. Many other colleges hold smaller events during Commemoration Week that they call summer balls or parties rather than Commemoration balls. These are usually held on an annual or irregular basis, and are usually black tie. Merton College holds a triennial winter ball, of which the next will be in 2016.[2]

Recent and upcoming balls

In the past, Commemoration balls were held "night after night"[3] by different colleges during Commemoration Week. With many colleges now holding smaller annual summer balls, Commemoration balls are now held by only some of the larger colleges, who still follow the traditional triennial cycle. Oriel College hosts a ball in the first year of the three-year cycle, and until recently Magdalen College also did. However Magdalen College cancelled their ball in 2015 at the last minute downgrading to a smaller affair. Currently, in the second year, there is only one regular Commemoration ball held by New College. In the third year, there are now four colleges with this honour (Worcester College, Christ Church, Trinity College, St. John's College).

The 2005 Christ Church Commemoration ball was the first to be held by that college for fifteen years because of an incident at the 1990 ball that led to the Governing Body suspending the ball and replacing it with an annual summer party until 2005.

In 2013, Balliol College held a Commemoration ball to mark the 750th Anniversary of the College's foundation, the first Commemoration Ball at Balliol since 1969.[4] Similarly, the commemoration ball hosted by Worcester College on 27 June 2014 was the highlight of celebrations to mark the college's tercentenary.[5]

Performances

Commemoration ball organising committees generally seek to secure private performances from leading entertainers; some notable performances are listed below.

2016
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
1999

See also

References

  1. ↑ Balsdon, J.P.V.D.: Oxford Life, page 240. Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1957
  2. ↑ "Merton College Winter Ball".
  3. ↑ Balsdon, J.P.V.D (supra)
  4. ↑ "Balliol 750th Anniversary Commemoration Ball".
  5. ↑ http://thetercentenaryball.co.uk/
  6. ↑ http://newcollegeball.co.uk/
  7. ↑ Trinity College Ball http://www.thetrinityball.com/
  8. ↑ http://thetercentenaryball.co.uk/
  9. ↑ Christ Church Commemoration Ball 2014 http://christchurchball.co.uk
  10. ↑ St John's College Ball http://ball.sjc.ox.ac.uk/
  11. ↑ http://www.merton.ox.ac.uk/event/summer-ball
  12. ↑ http://exeter-live.nsms.ox.ac.uk/node/1257
  13. ↑ http://www.bridgeofsighsball.co.uk/
  14. ↑ New College Ball http://www.newcollegeball.co.uk/
  15. ↑ Magdalen College Ball http://www.magdalenball.com
  16. ↑ http://christchurchball.co.uk/onewebmedia/Programme.pdf
  17. ↑ http://thetercentenaryball.co.uk/images/PDF/Programme.pdf
  18. ↑ Trinity Commemoration Ball 27 June 2014 Programme
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ Athlete at Magdalen College Ball 2012 on YouTube
  21. ↑ Oriel College Ball 2012
  22. ↑ Worcester College Commemoration Ball 2011 :: The Grand Tour
  23. ↑ Trinity Commemoration Ball 2011 :: The Night

External links

2016 Balls

2015 Balls

2014 Balls

2013 Balls

2012 Balls

2011 Balls

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