Gebr. Alexander

Gebr. Alexander, of Mainz, Germany, is a manufacturer of instruments, founded in 1782 by Franz Ambros Alexander and still in business today. The company claims to be the oldest musical instrument manufacturing company in Germany.

Franz Ambros Alexander was the descendant of a French Huguenot family and grew up in Miltenberg, which had been a village of the electoral Mainz during these times. He moved to the main town, joined the local guild and founded a workshop for brass instruments in 1782.

Today the company is renowned primarily for its horns. Its Model 103 is regarded as the standard instrument of German orchestras. The product portfolio also comprises trumpets, flugelhorns, Wagner tubas, baritone horns, euphoniums and tubas.

On the occasion of the 225th anniversary of Gebr. Alexander, Schott Music presented an anniversary hymn, composed by Enjott Schneider. Prof. Michael Höltzel was in the charge of the musician lead during the premiere.

Alexander – or "Alex" – horns are a popular choice with professional players. Probably the best-known Alexander horn is that played by Dennis Brain in his near-legendary recordings of the Mozart horn concertos with the Philharmonia Orchestra. This instrument was badly damaged in the crash which killed Brain, but was restored by Paxman of London and is now on display, along with an Alex played by Brain's uncle Alfred Brain, in the Royal Academy of Music museum.

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