Braham, David (1881-1887) | University of Illinois Archives

Name: Braham, David (1881-1887)

Historical Note: David Braham (1834-1905), English composer, arranger and conductor born in London is best known for partnering with playwright Edward Harrigan and setting a number of his plays to music. Braham studied at the British Union School, playing harp and violin. After finishing his studies at the British Union School, Braham worked as a brass turner, making brass instruments and supplementing his salary by performing in theater orchestras. He emigrated to New York in 1856 and began performing with Matt Peel's Campbell Minstrels. By 1859, he had become the orchestra director at Fox and Curran's Canterbury Music Hall. He later became the director for the Canterbury Theater and in 1872 he became the orchestra director at New York's Theare Comique. When the Theatre Comique was purchased by the impresario Josh Hart, Hart brought the playwrights Edward Harigan and Tony Hart (no relation to Josh Hart) to the Theater. Braham began composing overtures and arrangements for "dumb acts," or non-singing performances, dancers, and jugglers, as well as re-orchestrations for the vocal soloists. In total, Braham composed about 200 songs for voice and piano. Within this output, Braham's music for the duo's Mulligan Guard series laid the foundation for American musical theater of the 1870s and 80s. Braham and Edward Harigan formed a close working relationship and in 1876 Harrigan married Braham's daughter Annie. Braham died on April 11, 1905.

Sources: Rodger, Gillian. "Braham, David." Grove Music Online.

Note Author: Nolan Vallier