The Portland daily press., 1871-12-12
The Portland Band.
Some Extracts from its History-hacidents and
Personal "reminiscences

The Portland band.
Some Extracts from its HiStory-Tncidents an,
Personal "reminiscences.
NUMBER l.
PREVIOUS to the year 1880 there was in Port
land no organization to supply music for publ
parades. The "spirit-stirring drum and tn
ear-piercing fife" were the only instruments or
dinarily at the head of our military companies
when they 'turned OUT in obedience to the re
quirements of the law, or procession of citi
zens was got up on some festal day or to give
ecldt to political movement. The regimenta
bands which did duty on the days of genera
MUSTER" were simple combinations of instru
ments, picked up, as it were, in the towns which
contributed soldiers to the parade, though the
performers were regularly enlisted men. On
State occasions and anniversaries, where some
thing extra was demanded, musicians from a
distance were employed, and the appearance OF
band of "foreign" players in the street, set all
the boys and girls and good many of theiI
seniors into pleasurable condition of excite
ment In 1880 a number of public-spirited
young men resolved to organize themselves in
to band for street-playing. We do not know
how many were in the organization, but among
the members were Joseph d. Kimball, Nahum
Libby, John X. Paine, David Paine, Jacob S.
Paine, Nathan Cobb, Timothy Kingsbury,
Leonard M. Dow, Edward Ilsley, William
sparrow, Ferdinand Ilsley, Thomas j. Sparrow,
The architect, Henry Pinkham, Simeon H.
Higgins, and William M. Prior How many
of them are now living we do not know, but we
can count up several, some residing in Portland
md Others in different parts of the State John
a. Paine was the father of David and Jacob.
Another son, William, subsequently became a
member of the band, and maintained his inter-
est in it until his DEATH about three years
SINCE The musical taste of the elder Paine
was impaired in greater or less degree, to all
ais posterity, of whom John K Paine the eel
ebrated organist and composer, is one Prior
was house painter, a man of real genius and
something of celebrity among his fellows
He used the artists pencil occasionally, and
painted several genre pieces, one of which, en-
TITLED Pudding and Milk is owned by our
present City Clerk, III. 1. Robinson, Esq. He
was short thin man, and beat the bass drum
in the band. 1t is said that being once on duty
with the band on some grand occasion, the
stirring strains of their martial music excited
the alarm of a big porker, who was searching
Tor food in the gutter. AS the band approach
ed piggy's fright increased, and just as the
musicians arrived opposite where his Tor her)
'wineship was feeding, she bolted into the
ranks right betwixt Prior's legs, destroying his
equilibrium. He landed '.pig-a-back" and was
carried, drum and all, some distance and finally
Jumped into the dust and dirt, to the discom-
iture of the band and the merriment of the
crowd, who thronged the sidewalks in their ca
yerness to hear the music and see the pageant.
Abel f. Knight member of the Boston
Brigade Band, was the first leader of this band.
He came here and taught band school; and
perhaps it was his instruction that gave birth
% the idea of such an organization in Portland.
The instruments adopted were clarionets, trum-
'ets, bassoons, serpents, trombones, and we
mink, French horn. Knight played the
We distinctly remember this band.
t was great day for the school-boys when it
anne out on any public occasion. Never was a
musical organization more thoroughly wor-
hipped. The best ovations given to great art
SITS nowadays, are tame compared with the
riumphs accorded to them; and the whilom
eholars of Masters Libby, jackson and Whit
more can charge some of their floggings the
ay after training to the superior attractions
# the band The first rehearsal room was in
'haw's block, the same room, we believe that is
lsed by the present organization. The old
Portland Museum occupied portion of the
anne building. Nathan Cobb, a member, was
he manager of this then locally-famous institu-
ion. Thursday evening was devoted to rehears-
is. The uniform of the band was a grey coat,
With gold trimmings, and whitepantaloons One
Incident in the early history of the band is re-
allied here. On the 4th of July 1880 or 81 riv-
i celebrations were held in this city, one under
he auspices of the Democrats and the other,
hough ostensibly the town procession, was
by the National Republicans This
vas the only band procurable, and concession
between the opposing parties was necessary,
md it was arranged that the Democratic pro-
ession should move an hour earlier than the
ther. Accordingly it was escorted by the
and to the Casco street meeting house, where
he Grafton was to be delivered. An opening
iece was played and the band returned to per-
)rm the same service for the opposite party
rho listened to their orator at the Second Par
sh church.
On the 10th of March, 1884, at the request of
John d. Kinsman and the members named
Ibove, the band was incorporated by the legis-
allure under the name of the Portlrnd Band
4 leader, secretary and two managers consti-
uted the board of officers.
None of the records of this organization are
so far as we know, and its history is
mainly gathered from living members. 1t
GEMS that the history of the band, from 1884 to
$40 was similar to that of other similar bodies,
'arying from the highest prosperity to the most
depressing and discouraging circumstances.
The composition of the band also changed
argely. Among the names of active members
Turing this decade, in addition to the original
ist, the following are preserved: 7. ID. Burn
lam, who was the last leader of the clarionet
,and, Russell Foster, Reuben Twist, w. Brad
Jury, Arthur Ilsley Oliver Everett, Jr.,
,harles Walker, e. Carlton, E. D. Cannon,
!. Smith, Chas. Bradley, Alfred Sawyer, J. B.
newell, s. w. SWEET, w. Graham, w. Rich
rds and ]. Vickery. John X. Paine was lead
+ of the band during this period.
ATTRACTION EXTRAORDINARY Thomas
Orchestra, pronounced by the entire press the
largest and most perfect concert troupe which
mas ever undertaken a tour either in this
country or in Europe, will give an entertain
ment in Portland, Dec. 10Th, flor particulars
see advertisement in another column) with the
Haydn Society and the artists engaged(m any of
whose names do not appear). This will form
one of the Grandest Combinations ever united
for musical entertainment in this country. In
order that our people may have opportunity to
enjoy this occasion the Maine Central Railroad
will run a special train over and back at one
fare, returning Immediately after the concert and
we learn thatin all probability arrangements will
be made with the horse cars at Westbrook to
take passengers nearly to the doors of the hall
and return them to the cars after the concert
1t should be borne in mind by our lovers of in
and vocal music, that the attend
ance ON an occasion of this kind, will be far
more beneficial than years of study and prac-
tice UNMARRIED by opportunity to listen and OBJ
serve that which very nearly approaches to per-
lection. With the orchestra itself, the Haydn
society, Kotzschmar, Miss Krebs, Mrs. Smith,
Winch and others, the occasion must be an
event to be remembered in the musical world
We predict good representation from Bath.
Bath Times.
THE PORTLAND AND OGDENsBURG TRACK
Yesterday afternoon the Mayor and Aldermen