a.e.brain jr (junior, to distinguish him from his father who had the same name) was born in 1885. his father, alfred edwin brain sr. was a well-known horn player. alfred started to learn the trumpet when he was six, but when he was twelve he changed to the french horn and learned from his father. he studied at the royal academy of music with adolf borsdorf and also learned the piano from g.d.cunningham who was to teach his nephew the organ some forty years later. his first professional job was with the scottish orchestra. he then played in the queen’s hall orchestra and the london symphony orchestra.