Aubrey Brain

Background

Aubrey Harold Brain was born in London in 1893. His father, A. E. Brain senior

Career

He was the father of Dennis Brain. He came from a musical family. He went to the United States to join the Damrosch Orchestra in 1923, and remained permanently, becoming an American citizen.

He was appointed principal horn of the New Symphony Orchestra that same year, and in 1912 he went on the LSO"s tour of the United States under Arthur Nikisch.

He was principal horn of Sir Thomas Beecham"s opera company orchestra in 1913. Dame Ethel Smyth wrote her Concerto for Violin, Horn and Orchestra with Aubrey Brain in mind.

He and Jelly d"Arányi premiered the work under Sir Henry Wood on 5 March 1927. He also played it in Berlin with Marjorie Hayward.

He joined the British Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra as principal horn, and remained there until illness caused his premature retirement in 1943.

He was often a soloist, and made a number of recordings

He had a marked preference for French instruments, and played a hand horn made by Labbaye in c. 1865, to which English-made valves had been added. He would never permit the use of large-bore German horns in the British Broadcasting Corporation Symphony.

Achievements

• In 1911 Aubrey Brain won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music.

Membership

Was a member of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) horn quartet.