Echos du bas maine history
The wonderful story which today ranks the Echos du Bas Maine among the French elite of hunting horn was created the 22nd of May, 1980. A handful of players, 8 to be exact, motivated by their founding president Jean du Mesnildot, decided to create their own band and obtained the permission to wear the traditional outfit and button of the former equipage.
The information comes from the former hunters’ society of the department “Mayenne” and the count of Pontfarcy. In 1937 he was the master of the equipage, he was just about selling the last dogs of his pack and had no idea that this legacy would last and revived under the name of “Echos du Bas Maine”.
It is in this “hunters – hunting horns” spirit that a big reception was organised by the hunting players the 30th of April, 2010. This event celebrated “the 30 years of the Echos du Bas Maine and the 180 years of the birth of the Equipage”. The heirs and their family were invited to remember this reception.
With almost 50 members, the Echos du Bas Maine have this special feature to be composed only by hunters and friends who meet up at the Maison Marie. Those meetings include singings or bands, because our hunting-horn players are often asked to participate to special events, hunts and to play for their friends.
The out fit
It was decided during the 17th century that each equipage would have his own colour.
The frock, durable and in heavy sheet, is in the colours of the equipage. The trimming (pocket and collar) are in a different colour of velvet, and sometimes enhanced by braids. The frock and the jacket are closed by the famous button of the equipage.
Here again each equipage has his own, for the Echos du Bas Maine there is a deer represented on the button, under which is written “BAS MAINE”.
