The International Horn Society has informed that French horn player Daniel Bourgue (1937-2023) has died. Bourgue, so they say, « must surely be the last representative of the old school of French playing. »
Bourgue was born in 1937 in Avignon, France and began his musical education there, studying cello, horn, harmony, music history, and chamber music. After receiving a Premier Prix at the Avignon Conservatory while still in secondary school, he entered the Paris Conservatory, where after eight months he obtained a Premier Prix in horn in the class of Jean Devemy. At this time he began his career as soloist and chamber musician, which took him throughout the world.
Bourgue’s publications include five volumes of the method Techni-Cor, a book Parlons du cor (translated into several languages), a transcription of the Bach cello suites, and numerous editions and arrangements of horn literature. He was a director of the publisher Edition Billaudot.
In later years Bourgue devoted himself to solo performances and teaching.
Bourgue was President of the Association Nationale des Cornistes Français. He served two terms on the IHS Advisory Council (1980-86), was host of the 1982 International Horn Symposium in Avignon, France, and was elected an IHS Honorary Member in 2008.
