Abstract
Dennis Brain's recorded legacy is nothing less than prodigious. In addition to his few, highly celebrated recordings as a featured soloist, Brain participated in a breathtakingly vast number of recordings in his role as principal horn of several prestigious orchestras and chamber ensembles. By far the most important of these was the Philharmonia Orchestra, of which Brain was principal horn from its inception in July of 1945 until his death on 1 September 1957. Brain also served as principal horn of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from its founding by Sir Thomas Beecham in the autumn of 1946 through 1948, and, again, after intermittent appearances in early 1950, regularly from the autumn of 1950 until April of 1954. Since the RPO also served as the resident orchestra for the Glyndebourne festival from 1949 through 1963, Brain was involved in the early post-war Glyndebourne productions as well—at all events, through the 1953 season. In addition, Brain served as principal horn with the following organizations: the RAF Orchestra (R. P. O'Donnell) from 1940, the National Symphony Orchestra (Sidney Beer) from 1942, the London Chamber Orchestra and the (New) London Orchestra until about 1950, and, sporadically, with the London Wind Players and London Mozart Players (Harry Blech) through the early 1950s, as well as with Karl Haas's London Baroque Orchestra and London Baroque Ensemble. Brain also made recordings with his own group, the Dennis Brain Wind Quintet, which he had founded in April 1946, and with its outgrowth and continuation: the Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble.