Fontaine-Besson
Besson was a French and English firm specialising in the manufacture of brass musical instruments, founded by Gustave Auguste Besson (1820–1874) in Paris in 1838, and opening their first London branch in 1851. Following Gustave Auguste Besson's death the French arm of the company changed its name to Fontaine-Besson in 1880, but continued to be known as Besson in England.
By 1894 their London factory of London employed 131 workers, producing 100 brass instruments a week. In 1948 it was taken over by the firm of Boosey & Hawkes, while Besson's business in France was acquired by Cousenon in 1957 [1].
Tchaikovsky corresponded with the firm in 1892 concerning their Clarinette-pedale (a new contrabass clarinet).
Correspondence with Tchaikovsky
One letter from Tchaikovsky to Besson has survived, dating from 1892, which has been translated into English on this website:
- Letter 4702 – May 1892, from Saint Petersburg
One letter from Besson to Tchaikovsky, dating from May 1892, is preserved in the Klin House-Museum Archive.
