1st Symphonie concertante E flat major for 2 horns solo and orchestra
Othon Joseph Vandenbroek (often incorrectly called Vandenbrock or Van den Broeck), was born on December 20, 1758 in Ypres (Flanders) and died on October 18, 1832 in Passy (Paris). Vandenbroeck probably came from Holland. He received his training from the horn virtuoso Spandau in The Hague, where he worked from around 1770 to 1780. In addition, he received lessons in theory (with Fuchs, the Kapellmeister of the Prince of Orange) and composition (with J. Schmitt).
In 1781 he became a member of the orchestra at the Théâtre français in Maastricht; In 1783 he seems to have moved to Paris, because in January 1784 he appeared with a horn concerto at the Concert Spirituel. At the time, the editor of Mercure did not consider him mature enough to perform in front of a Parisian audience. But in 1788 he was already able to impress as a successful horn virtuoso in the Concerts de la Loge Olympique. His name appears in the records of several orchestras: as first horn player at the Théâtre de la rue Feydeau (1789-1791), later as fourth horn player at the Opéra (1793-1816) and also as a musician of the "1re classe" in the Garde Nationale.
In 1795 he became a professor at the Conservatoire de Music, but gave up his position at the "Réforme de l'an VIII" in 1800. In 1812 he was "attaché à la chapelle de l'Empereur et Roi" and in 1816 he was retired.
The present concerto for 2 horns, in the original title:
"Premier / Symphony / concertante / pour deux cors principaux, deux Violons, Alto, / Basse, Bassons, Cors et Hautbois ad libitum. / dédiée / à Monsieur le Chevalier / De Gilede de Lestang / Capitaine au Regiment de Vintinille / par / Othon Vandenbroek"
was published around 1790 by the Paris publisher Boyer. There are various variations in the voices for the name Vandenbroek, also referred to as VanDenBroek or Vandenbroeck. In addition, "ou Floto" appears to have been subsequently entered into the oboe parts.
