Our Founder
CAROLINE BROWN
1953-2018
Widely acknowledged to have driven the period instrument movement from Baroque to the Classical period, Caroline Brown formed The Hanover Band in 1980 to perform and record Beethoven on nineteenth century contemporary instruments and in a performance style which Beethoven would have recognised.
Working with Sir Charles Mackerras, Monica Huggett, Roy Goodman, Colin Lawson, Anthony Halstead and her great friend Jonathan Del Mar, Caroline researched and commissioned work to be undertaken to produce what are now known as URTEXT (the earliest version of a text) editions of all the Beethoven symphonies.
The Hanover Band completed their recording of the Beethoven Symphony cycle in 1987 and went on to record complete symphonies of Schubert, Weber, Schumann and JS Bach in a similar way. This inspired work led to Bärenreiter’s publication of Del Mar’s Urtext editions, from which we now know all the major international orchestras perform.
Caroline’s ambition for The Hanover Band and her devotion to performances of the highest calibre have been witnessed throughout the world at Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, the BBC Proms, Edinburgh Festival and Lincoln Center; a few regular venues that without doubt have been highlights of more than 750 public performances over the past 37 years.
Her passion was always to extend her knowledge and that of her orchestral colleagues by passing on those experiences and the understanding of performances given on period instruments. Caroline’s innovative education projects inspired many budding young musicians – such as “No Beethoven No Beat!”, “Clocking On” and “Hot Vivaldi” – that involved over 10,000 youngsters aged between 8 and 21 in various studies, rehearsals and performances.
‘Nurturing the Next Generation’ was a further extension of Caroline’s ambition to encourage those starting out in their careers to work closely with The Hanover Band, extending performance opportunities and above all encouraging students in their appreciation of orchestral music of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Caroline was a cellist educated at Bedford High School, Royal College of Music (Junior Exhibitioner (1969-71); Anna Shuttleworth & Joan Dickson cello Royal College of Music 1971-75. Awarded Campden Foundation Scholarship to study at the Hochschule für Musik, Vienna (Andre Navarra cello 1975-6); attended master classes with Anner Bylsma, Nikolaus Harnoncourt & Eduard Melkus (baroque cello). Trinity College of Music 1998-1999 where she gained an MA in Music Education. Much in demand as a music examiner for Trinity College London, Caroline visited Ireland, Spain, India, Jamaica, South Africa, Trinidad, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and throughout the UK.
Caroline passed away in February 2018 after six years of fighting Cancer. Her artistic legacy lives on in The Hanover Band and with the number of students and professionals that she had nurtured over the years.
A memorial service and performance of the Mozart Requiem will take place on Wednesday 13th June 2018 at St Margaret’s Westminster Abbey at 4.00pm.
Further information can be obtained online here.
