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This first volume of the Brave Belgians Horn Albums focusses on the Ghentian lyrical horn playing tradition from the early nineteenth century to the beginning of the Belle époque around 1870. A number of coinciding historical and sociological events led to the establishment of a strong horn tradition in Ghent. An old Belgian saying goes “rain in Paris, drizzle in Brussels,” referring to the economic, cultural and social relations between both countries. The French cultural influence on all aspects of cultural life in nineteenth-century Belgium was overwhelming. Since the most important horn teachers of the first half of the nineteenth century had been trained in the French tradition, the horn repertoire in the early days of the Belgian conservatories was entirely French, including French teaching methods and the use of French-style instruments. (more text in the book...)