Death of a London horn legend
RIPThe death has been reported of David Cripps, principal horn of the London Symphony Orchestra in the glory years, 1974-1983. He played under Andre Previn and Claudio Abbado, was the first to perform John Williams’s horn theme in Star Wars and was proudest of a tour with Abbado in which he played Mahler 5 every night and never cracked.
David spent his later years in Tucson, Arizona, where he died of cancer.
He lives on in hundreds of recordings.
UPDATE: David’s sister Joanna tells us: ‘Much of the Star Wars music David played was written particularly for David to play by John Williams.’
Sorry to hear this. He lived pretty close by and I was very glad to get to talk with him a few times. Just couldn’t get him to play with the orchestra which was frustrating. RIP.
What this man and the late great Maurice Murphy gave to music and the art of orchestral performance will live in eternity.
Thanks for my youth, Mr. Cripps…
I played with him several times in LA in his latter years. He was always a pleasure to be around. He will live on through his legendary recordings. Sorry to hear this news. RIP Mr. Cripps
I have known David since our student days in London in the early 1960’s. I was at The Royal College and David was a pupil at the Royal Academy with the renowned Jim Brown. I next came into contact with him when David was Principal Horn In the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. I played in all of the orchestras David was Principal in over the years and he led each section with tremendous energy and was fearless especially. He had nerves of steel, iron chops and played with incredible authority. I liked him very much and had huge respect for how he led by example. I’m so sorry he has left us, but his legacy goes on, especially in those John Williams movies!
RIP David
He was 1st Horn in that legendary Heldenleben with the RPO and Kempe at the 1974 Proms. What a player!
This is very sad news! Being a horn player and a great fan of André Previn’s LSO – I remember hearing him play the solo horn part in Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony with Previn LIVE at the Royal Festival Hall in the 1970s – the sound of David Cripps was always ever present in my mind through recordings, along with all London Orchestra’s principal horn players during that legendary time! As well as the memories already mentioned, he also appeared on a few Albums with the Alan Parsons Project. A truly versatile player. Condolences to his family and friends!
So very sorry to hear of the passing of these huge musical greats of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
May they rest in peace.
I played with David when he was a young principal horn with the BBC Welsh Symphony. He showed then the qualities that served him so well in his later stellar career. He was not phased by anything and led by example. This made him a pleasure to work with. His second horn there was a very fine old school player Bill Davies. It says something about David that when he was with the LSO the then fourth horn would not go on extended tours for family reasons. David got Bill to do them. I know that it was the highlight of the ever dependable Bill’s career. RIP David, you will live on in the memory and not only through your fine recordings.