Music in Maine

Members of Fanfare du Club St. Andre 1926, top left to right Drum Louis Bouffard, French horn Dubreil, Trombone Perreault, Priest Rev. Felix Martin, Baritone Cote, Bass horn Sam Bernier. second row Bass drum George Beaupre, #3 Trumpet Duquette #2 trumpet Leo Bellerose, #1 Wilfred Boissonneault, first row Saxophone Arthur Perreault, Sax Bellerose, Clarinet Joseph Tardif, Leader Joe Bouffard.

Painchaud's Band, Biddeford, circa 1890. The band is in the uniforms bought in 1885 for a trip to Quebec where it won first prize in a festival competition by marching up three flights of stairs to the convention hall without a break in the music or their marching cadence. Note the old-time policeman uniform and helmet. The officer was Charles T. Charland. This picture was taken on Adams Street, in front of Adams House. Band members are: J. Gregoire, Remi Gagnon, Hector Picher, Jacob Cartier, Louis Lamarre, John Tousignant, Eddie Lane, Henry Cantara, Arsene Perreault, Alderic Martin, Leverriere, Dube, Crochiere, Zoel Cartier, Joseph Dupere.

Pierre Painchaud started his band in 1870 at the age of 18. As they practiced and continued in musical efforts, the band wore military uniforms in 1885 and 1890 for a competition in Quebec, and obtained first prize for musical as well as marching abilities. The longest tenured director of Pinchaud's band was Joseph Martin, leading the band through two world wars until his retirement in 1959.

All of the band members present are identified in the list on the bottom of the photograph. Front row (L-R): J. Verrier; A. Neveux; W. Janelle; Z. Cartier; Jos. H. Martin, Director; P. Langevin; J. Morin. Second row: W. Gaudette; P. Larochelle; Nap. Normand; F. Bolduc; W. Brousseau; Geo. H. Reny; L. Piché. Third row: J. Langelier; A. Paquin; A. Boisvert; A. Plante; L. Binette; E. Partigliani; A. Lambert. Back row: M. Murphy; B. Popeo; E. E. Whitney; A. Henri; J. Binette; E. Perreault; B. Wetherell; J. T. Coté.

The Painchaud Band played, at May field on April 1959. One of the oldest bands in the Country at that time.
The conductor was Mr. Gendron.

From left to right; Mr. Cloutier, Bellerose, Tardif, Bouffard, Pinard, Mandeville, Verneau, Gendron, DeHaven, Murphy, Boucher, Gendron, Cur, Lambert, Picher, Caron, Blaisdell, Hayduze, Gireux, Hudson. Terrey, Jariz.

A local Biddeford band known as the Ralph Armstrong Arcadians.

First row from left to right Trumpet Johny Trull, Sax 2 Doc Grenier, Sax 1 Ralph Armstrong, Sax 3 George Bouffard, Sax 4 Pete Beaudoin.

Second row Bass Violin Eddie Arseneault, Singer Larrane Levasseiur, Drummer Eddie Lane, and Piano Ray Courtois.

Le Montagnard Band, part of the Montagnard showshoe club in Lewiston, performed at the St. John's Day parade near the Dewitt Hotel on Pine Street in Lewiston.

The snowshoe club band, also known as the "French Band," performed year-round in events and at concerts.

This band also was featured in the movie Peyton Place.

The Montagnard Band at Ste-Marie church in Lewiston in 1947. It was the 75th anniversary of the Jacque Cartier Institute, the group that organized the annual St. John the Baptist celebrations.