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Alan Civil

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Alan Civil was an English horn player, born in 1929. He began on the French horn at a young age and played as a teenager in the Royal Artillery Band in Woolwich. He had lessons from Aubrey Brain, the father of the famous horn player Dennis Brain, and later from Willy von Stemm in Hamburg. Conductor Thomas Beecham brought him to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, where he played second horn next to Dennis Brain and later led the horn section. In 1955 he went to the Philharmonia, where he became principal horn after Brain's death in 1957. From 1966 to 1988 he was principal horn of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Music and breakthrough

As a soloist Civil recorded the horn concertos of Mozart with the Philharmonia under Otto Klemperer, and his recording of the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings by Benjamin Britten with tenor Robert Tear became well known. He also played chamber music in his own Alan Civil Horn Trio and taught at the Royal College of Music. He died in 1989.

Influence

Outside the classical world Civil became known for his work with The Beatles. On For No One from the album Revolver he played the horn solo, and he was one of the few session musicians to be named on a Beatles record. He also played in the orchestra of A Day in the Life. His name thus shows how The Beatles brought in classical musicians in the studio to give their pop music new tone colours.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to For No One by The Beatles and notice the solo by Alan Civil on the French horn. Hear how that warm, classical sound stands out against the piano and the voice of Paul McCartney.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists