Michael Dougherty, Past President of the Coaticook Harmony Band

Video of Michael Dougherty, past president of the Coaticook Harmony Band, seated in one of the Beaulne Museum’s exhibition halls, discussing some of the innovative aspects of the band. The video includes historical photos of majorettes performing, a photo of musicians in front of the town hall of Jallais in France, and a picture of some officials signing an exchange partnership agreement.

Transcription:

[Michael Dougherty]

“L’Harmonie de Coaticook” is the oldest concert band in Quebec still performing today. The band was active back in 1868. We don’t know for certain the year of its formation, but many things lead us to believe that it could have been founded as early as 1856 in Barnston. In late 1949 and early 1950, the musical director at the time, Victor-Laurier Vincent, used to go to the States to visit different bands, and he found that

[A group of majorettes with band member, Robert Huard, pose in front of a building]

[Voice off-screen]

majorettes added an interesting dimension.

[Back to Michael Dougherty]

In the summer of 1950 a first squad of majorettes was officially formed, and they were soon ready to parade.

[A group of majorettes parade down the street with musicians from the Coaticook concert band in the background]

[Voix off-screen]

They made their real debut in June in Granby, at the amateur marching band festival of the province of Quebec.

It’s worth noting that the “Harmonie” of Coaticook was the first marching band in Quebec to include a group of majorettes, made up of about 5 to 7 girls.

[Back to Michael Dougherty]

The directors of the band thought it was very important to broaden the scope of their activities, in order to keep up the interest of the musicians. For that reason, it was decided in 1992 to look into organizing a cultural exchange “on the Continent”, ideally in France.

[Musicians from the Coaticook band pose alongside musicians from the band from Jallais, in front of the Jallais town hall]

[Voice off-screen]

Over the next several weeks, I contacted Yann Kermanac’h, the musical director of the band of the town of Jallais, in France. He said that both he and the band’s president, Jacques Babin, were ready to welcome the Coatiook music ensemble to their town. It was an enriching experience for the 45 out of 50 musicians who participated.

[Back to Michael Dougherty]

Given the huge success of this cultural project on all levels,

[The mayor of Coaticook, the mayor of Jallais, and representatives of the two musical ensembles at the official signing of the cultural exchange agreement]

[Voice off-screen]

a further eight band exchanges were organized between 1998 and 2008.

[Back to Michael Dougherty]

If the “Harmonie” band has been able to survive for over 150 years, it’s due to the support of the town of Coaticook and of many devoted people, such as its musical directors, its musicians, and most of all, the support of its loyal audience.