Song of school spirit
An enduring Commencement tradition, “Clarissima” was composed by two members of the class of 1911.
An enduring Commencement tradition, “Clarissima” was composed by Brenton C. Patterson and written by Ralph W. Taylor, both from the class of 1911. One of the song’s first performances was in May 1914 at the first BU Night at the Pops. New lyrics were written by the late Dean B. Doner, a BU vice president from 1973 to 1986.