Low Brass auditions for Huddled Masses Orchestra April 8th in Hallowell

The Huddled Masses Orchestra was active in Maine a few years back and you may recall that we played the first Zwiefacher dance sessions at the Down East Country dance festival. Our members also played at the folk dance party for that event, as well as festivals and wedding receptions around the state. We also did may Oktoberfest events. In 2023 we re-formulated into a twelve-piece brass band. There is a vibrant scene for Serbian and Rom dance music and in the Balkans, a long tradition of brass bands.

We rehearse regularly. On April 8th, we will be having a daytime rehearsal at the Hallowell Multicultural Center which is a central location for our far-flung members. We are looking for additional low brass (trombone or baritone horn) players to join us. The low brass provide a pulsating engine that propels the jalopy down the road when the band takes off. We have some really terrific players but many belong to multiple bands and so we need some backups.

There is a learning curve for Balkan music which involves the minor keys, the rhythms and the teamwork. We do have sheet music though in the long run the band will work with lead sheets. We can teach you the style. The instrumentation includes brass instruments ( trumpets, trombones, tuba, Eb sax, baritone horn), two accordions, and percussion (trap, dumbeq, tupan, and poink).