Ludwig August Lebrun

At the age of twelve, having learned the oboe from his father, Lebrun was accepted as a scholar in the Mannheim orchestra. Only three years later he achieved a full life-long position with the orchestra. His playing facility and abilities were unparalleled; accordingly, Lebrun travelled extensively between 1772 and 1790 performing in Milan, Paris, London, Vienna, Prague, Naples and Berlin. The genres of his compositions included oboe concertos, chamber works, and ballets. Lebrun was possibly the first oboist to reach d''' and e''', and the sweetness of the tones which he achieved in the upper register was extraordinary. ~ Keith Johnson