Victor Bruns was born in 1904 in Ollila, which now forms part of Finland. He wrote more than 20 solo concertos, 50 chamber pieces and several ballet scores. In 1924, he entered the Leningrad Conservatory to study bassoon; three years later, he was appointed bassoonist with the Leningrad State Opera. Bruns studied composition alongside these orchestral commitments, first with Vladimir Shtsherbatshov, then later, in 1946, with Boris Blacher. He served as bassoonist with the Staatskapelle Berlin from 1946 until his retirement in 1969. His works became frequently performed and proved popular with musicians and audience alike, far beyond the borders of the German Democratic Republic. In 1960, Bruns was awarded the Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic. In 1971, he was appointed an honorary member of the Berlin State Orchestra. Twenty years later the International Double Reed Society in the USA also made him an honorary member.