Eichborn, Hermann

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Eichborn, Hermann

Eichborn, Hermann, German composer, writer on music, and inventor; b. Breslau, Oct. 30, 1847; d. Gries, near Bozen, April 15, 1918. He studied jurisprudence, then became interested in music and took organ lessons with the organist of the Breslau Cathedral. His income from a wine-brewing business in Gries enabled him to devote himself to writing and the invention of instruments. He also supported a local orch. that performed several of his works. In 1882 he patented his invention of the soprano horn in F, which he called Oktav Waldhorn, and which was adopted in many Silesian bands.

Works

Sonata for Waldhorn and Piano; Rondo brillant for Waldhorn and Orch.; Trompeters Berglied, “echo piece” for 2 Trumpets; Trompeter bias! Nur ein Spass! for 2 Trumpets and Orch.; several operettas.

Writings

Die Trompete in alter und neuer Zeit (Leipzig, 1881; new ed., Wiesbaden, 1968); Das alte Clarinblasen auf Trompeten (Leipzig, 1894); Die Dampfung beim Horn (Leipzig, 1897); Militarismus und Musik (Leipzig, 1909).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire