Per Brant

Swedish violinist and composer, born December 27 (baptism date) 1714, died August 9, 1767. After studying at Uppsala University in 1727, Brant was employed by the Chancellery College, but already in 1728 switched to the music career and became an extra violinist at the court chapel. In 1735 he became a regular violinist, in 1738 a concertmaster, in 1747 a deputy and in 1758 he succeeded his teacher Johan Helmich Roman as a regular conductor for the court orchestra. Brant had a close relationship with his teacher, whom he called "my father". From 1728 he also gave private concerts, which in 1740 was changed to subscription concerts. Brant also had plans to start a musical academy, and in 1748 received permission to organize a lottery to raise the necessary funds. Due to financial difficulties, however, he was forced to pledge his lottery tickets. He is one of the most important copyists of Swedish and foreign music during the 18th century. Manuscripts of Roman's works by Brant are especially valuable in novel research, as he was so close to his teacher and reworked some of his works.