The British Musical Biography

[E] Probin. The name of a notable Birming-
ham family of horn players. Moses Probin,
born about 1782, was the first to acquire a
reputation, though his father was a horn
player before him. He took part in all the
principal concerts in the Midlands, from
Shrewsbury to Cheltenham, and was a virtuoso
on the hand horn. With two of his sons he
would, commencing at five in the morning,
diligently practice trios for horns. He was a
man of devout mind, and regular in attendance
at church. On one occasion his rector, with
whom he was very intimate, expressed a wish
that he would give up horn-playing and earn
an lionest living. He died August 8, 1857, in
his 75th year. His son, Henry Probin, was
born June 10, 1812. He became famous as a
horn player, and to the last used the old hand
horn, as he could never reconcile himself to
the valve horn. He played in the Birmingham
festival orchestra for a long time, including
the " Elijah " year, 1846. He was the inti-
mate friend and companion of Alfred Mellon,
and during his conductorship played in the
Theatre Royal band. He retired from the
profession in 1879, and died June 30, 1885.
His brother Samuel was also a horn player,
hut in no way remarkable. Alfred Probin,
son of Henry, was born April 29, 1852, and at
the age of eight began his study of the instru-
ment. Mr. Stockley gave him his first
oi^portunity, and when sixteen he was first
horn in an opera company. His first festival
engagement was at Nottingham in 1873, under
Costa. He was first horn at the revived
Chester Festival, 1879, and since then has
been in the orchestras of the Three Choirs,
and Birmingham Festivals, arid the principal
concerts in the country. As a solo player he
has been heard in chamber concerts in Bir-
mingham, and he played Mozart's Third
Concerto for horn at Leicester, February,
1887. A young son is preparing to continue
the artistic career of the family.

entry id: 329-L-34