Braun

Braun, family of German musicians:

(1) Anton Braun, instrumentalist and composer; b. Ober-Beisheim, near Bad Hersfeld, Jan. 20, 1729; d. Kassel, April 26, 1798. He settled in Kassel about 1743 and became an oboist in the military band. In 1760 he was made first violinist and copyist of the court orch. Five of his children became musicians:

(2) Johann Braun, violinist and composer; b. Kassel, Aug. 29, 1753; d. Berlin, Jan. 1, 1811. He studied with his father, and then with C.A. Pesch (violin) and J.G. Schwanenberg (theory and composition) in Braunschweig. Returning to Kassel, he was first violinist in the court orch. from about 1780 until it was disbanded in 1785. After serving as a music teacher at the court, he was called to Berlin in 1788 as Konzertmeister to Queen Friederike of Prussia. Among his extant works are Simphonie concertante for 2 Horns and Orch., 2 cello concertos, a Concerto for Clarinet, 2 Horns, and Orch., and 12 string trios.

(3) Johann Friedrich Braun, oboist and composer; b. Kassel, Sept. 15, 1758; d. Ludwigslust, Sept. 15, 1824. He studied with his father and with C.S. Barth in Kassel before completing his training with the oboist Carlo Besozzi in Dresden. From 1777 he was oboist in the Ludwigslust court orch. He also made tours as a virtuoso in Germany and Denmark. In 1786 he married the court singer Friederice Louise Ulrica Kunzen, the daughter of C.A. Kunzen. He wrote a Sinfonia at 8, at least 6 oboe concertos, and various chamber pieces featuring the oboe and other instruments. He had two sons who became musicians: (a) Carl Anton Philipp Braun (b. Ludwigslust, Dec. 26, 1798; d. Rommehed, Sweden, June 11, 1835), an oboist and composer. He studied oboe with his father. In 1807 he was called to Copenhagen by his uncle, F.L.A. Kunzen, the court conductor, to serve as a chamber musician at the royal court. After giving concerts in Germany (1811–13), he settled in Stockholm as a member of the court orch (1815). Later he was conductor of the military band. He composed 6 syms., other orch. works, much chamber music, and some vocal pieces, (b) Wilhelm Theodor Johannes Braun (b. Ludwigslust, Sept. 20, 1796; d. Schwerin, May 12, 1867), an oboist and composer. He studied with his father. In 1824 he married his cousin, the singer Kathinka Braun. In 1825 he was named his father’s successor in Ludwigslust, where his wife became court singer. After the court was removed to Schwerin in 1837, he remained in its service there until 1856. He wrote an Oboe Concerto, a Clarinet Concerto, 6 overtures, and other orch. works, much chamber music, and various keyboard pieces.

(4) Maria Louise Braun, singer, mandolinist, and pianist; b. Kassel, Oct. 22, 1762; d. Munich, April 7, 1834. She pursued her career in Kassel until her marriage in 1797.

(5) Moriz Braun, violinist and bassoonist; b. Kassel, May 7, 1765; d. Würzburg, Nov. 16, 1828. He joined the Kassel court orch. as a violinist when he was twelve. After suffering a finger injury, he took up the bassoon, and from 1787 played in the Würzburg archiépiscopal court orch. He also made successful tours in Germany. He had two children who became musicians: Katharina Maria Louise Braun (b. Würzburg, March 24, 1799; d. Ludwigslust, June 8, 1832), a singer, who in 1824 married her cousin, the oboist and composer Wilhelm Theodor Johannes Braun. In 1825 she went with him to Ludwigslust, where she became a court singer. Joseph Braun (b. Würzburg, 1804; d. there, April 4, 1861), a bassoonist and composer. He served as a musician at the Fürstenberg court in Donaueschingen.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire