Music in Maine

The Portland Caledonian Pipe Band embraced the culture of the Scottish Highlands, marching in kilts and playing bagpipes and drums. By 1925, reports noted the band was all female, performing as the “Girl’s Caledonian Pipe Band” led by Major T. John Smith.

Donovan's Band of Houlton was formed in 1911.

The New Sweden Band played for the 30th anniversary of the founding of New Sweden in 1900. New Sweden has a rich history of music being part of its culture.

"The Springvale Brass Band was one of many that flourished locally before and after the Civil War. According to Emery's History of Sanford, a group called the Sanford Band was organized as early as 1844 and the Sanford Cornet Band started in 1860. Between the end of the Civil War and the close of the 19th century bands with the following names appeared in village parades and at local events: South Sanford Band, Weeman and Low's Quadrille Band, Mechanics Cornet Band, Sanford Drum Corps, Springvale Cornet Band, Springvale Band, Sanford Cadet Band and, of course, the Springvale Brass Band. The latter was the most photographed, perhaps because of its elaborate uniforms and dashing leader, R. A. Kempton, who always led the group on horseback." - "Villages on the Mousam, Sanford and Springvale" - by Harland Eastman

Photograph bears names on rear: Standing, left to right, John Cunningham, Henry Gillise, J. W. Case, H. B. Thayer, Tom Vose, Frank Gillise, Leader W. H. Allen, John Morong. Seated Ed. Trecartin, Frank McBride, H. P. Adams, Fred Trecartin, C. H. Clark. Paper bearing names attached to rear of photograph with printed labels reading “Frank. P. Allen North Granville New York.”

The South Portland Band. Community bands were prevalent in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and provided instruction in music and various instruments to young boys, as well as a source of musical accompaniment to community events.

These musicians are lined up in Bridgton, Maine's Pondicherry Square sometime in the 1870s. Bridgton's first band was formed in the fall of 1851. That band, Bridgton Brass Band, reformed after the Civil War, but members soon split off and formed a rival band. The band in this image sports dark uniforms with a light-colored sash - an indication that this may be the Bridgton Cadet Band because they wore blue jackets with yellow belts. The Brass Band wore blue and red uniforms.

The Springvale Brass Band poses in front of Arthur Y. Rogers' Boot & Shoe Repair Shop on Main Street in Springvale in this ca. 1910 photo.

Schatzer's Concert Orchestra of Boothbay Harbor posed for this formal portrait at the studio of F. H. McDougall. The caption below the mounted photograph reads, "Music Furnished, Terms Reasonable. Apply to R.A. Schatzer." Although Robert A. Schatzer was not a resident of the Boothbay area, several other local men have been identified in the photo: Judge Brackett, Charles Kenniston, Link Harris, Henry Wylie, and Gail Brackett. (Two of the men have not been identified.)

Nothing is known about this orchestra's founding or duration or its performances, but a letterhead with the orchestra's logo bears these claims: "With a Good Repertoire of Music," and "Not the Best in the Business But Good." More cryptic was this: "Permanent Address, N.Y. Clipper." (The New York Clipper, also known as the Clipper, was an entertainment newspaper in New York City from 1853 until 1924. It was ultimately absorbed by Variety.)

Members of Libby's Orchestra of Kennebunk are, front row from left, Libby on the fiddle; Frank Warren, bass drum; and Oscar Mitchell, trombone. Back row, from left, are unknown, Jack Junkins, snare drum; and Leroy Nason, clarinet.

Ten members of the Saco Fife and Drum Corps in uniform.