Dennis Brain - A Life in Music

[Guest]

This biography written by Stephen Gamble and William Lynch is due for publication in UK shortly. Carefully researched by Stephen Gamble over a period of six years, it includes contributions from many past and present horn players who knew Dennis and provides an insight into more than just a catalogue of recordings made by this truly exceptionally gifted performer, who died tragically in a road accident in his beloved Triumph TR3 in 1957, whilst driving home after a concert with the Philharmonia orchestra at the Edinburgh Festival.

You can obtain full details and UK price, and even pre-order, by accessing the link below.

http://www.eurospanbookstore.com/texasam

If that does not work, Click on this one:

https://www.eurospanbookstore.com/display.asp?K=9781574413076&sf1=imprint&st1=Texas,%20%22McWhiney%22,%20%22State%20House%22,%20%22Southern%20Methodist%20University%20Press%22,%20%22Texas%20Christian%20University%20Press%22,%20%22Texas%20Review%20Press%22,%20%22Texas%20State%20Historical%20Association%22,%20%22University%20of%20North%20Texas%20Press%22,%20%22Winedale%20Publishing%22&sort=sort_date/d&pge=texasam&ds=Texas+A+&m=6&dc=2860

or email: info@eurospangroup.com

Ventilhorn

[Roehre]

Thanks Ventilhorn, much appreciated

[Curalach]

Small correction Vh. Brain's fatal accident was in 1957. I remember the shock.

[amateur51]

The book is £24.95 inc p&p to UK and there's a 15% discount if you sign up for e-mails from them if this is your first purchase from them.

There will presumably be some interest from HM Revenue & Customs at this price.

The book is some 416 pp long, of which about a half is the book proper, followed by acknowledgements, discography (39 pages), etc. You can view this detail on the link below and by scroll down to the contents page.

http://www.eurospanbookstore.com/display.asp?K=9781574413076&sf1=imprint&st1=Texas,%20%22McWhiney%22,%20%22State%20House%22,%20%22Southern%20Methodist%20University%20Press%22,%20%22Texas%20Christian%20University%20Press%22,%20%22Texas%20Review%20Press%22,%20%22Texas%20State%20Historical%20Association%22,%20%22University%20of%20North%20Texas%20Press%22,%20%22Winedale%20Publishing%22&sort=sort_date/d&pge=texasam&ds=Texas+A+&m=6&dc=2860

[Ventilhorn]

Small correction Vh. Brain's fatal accident was in 1957. I remember the shock.

Thanks for that correction, Curalach. I have already amended my original post. A silly typo on my part, especially as I saw him sitting in his TR2 in August of that year outside the V & A (he was waiting to go in and play a concerto)

His last words to me were agonisingly sad, and I think it not inappropriate to quote them here. He said:

"You know, D_____ , I have gained a reputation for never cracking a note, but every day it becomes more difficult to justify that reputation and I am thinking of giving more time to conducting."

Sadly, he did not get the chance, and the musical world and especially the world of horn players lost a great friend and colleague.

RIP

[Curalach]

Sadly, he did not get the chance, and the musical world and especially the world of horn players lost a great friend and colleague.RIP

Vh, your post is very moving. How typical of such a fine player that he should recognise the human limitations of his powers and yet have plans for the future.
A lesson many could benefit from.

RIP

[Ventilhorn]

Vh, your post is very moving. How typical of such a fine player that he should recognise the human limitations of his powers and yet have plans for the future.
A lesson many could benefit from.

RIP

Had he lived, Dennis would have celebrated his 90th birthday on 17th May this year. It is regrettable that Radio 3 did not acknowledge this anniversary as, even more disgracefully, there was no mention or tributes in 2007 on the fiftieth anniversary of his untimely death; so it is of great pleasure to me that this comprehensive biography has been published this year, the 90th anniversary of his birth.

I have read excerpts of this publication and can thoroughly recommend it to all music lovers for the insight which it gives not only to the early careers of the horn-playing community but also the pre-war musical scene between 1921 and 1939.

Ventilhorn

[PaulT]

Amazon UK have it at a lower price and you will avoid import duty too

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dennis-Brain-Music-North-Musicians/dp/1574413074

[Curalach]

Had he lived, Dennis would have celebrated his 90th birthday on 17th May this year.

Well, there's something I didn't know. Same birthday as me!