Londonder grevase de Peyer studied clarinet at the Royal College of Music with Frederick Thurston. Towards the end of World War II, when he was aged 18, he joined the Royal Marines Band Service. De Peyer returned to the Royal College of Music after the war and subsequently studied in Paris with Louis Cahuzac.

In 1950 he was a founder member of the Melos Ensemble for whom he continued to play until 1974. From 1956 to 1973 he was principal clarinet of the London Symphony Orchestra. He was a founder member of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York in 1969 and played with them for 20 years.

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"De Peyer plays the Clarinet Concerto most beautifully. The limpid tone and style will be the more universally winning because they are not associated with a vibrato, except of the most fractional nature and in the places crying out aloud for it ; and the finished technique speaks for itself, if sometimes rather readily--it is possible to feel in some of the more arresting phrases that de Peyer wishes to overtake the orchestra. In fact he doesn't, and Collins has succeeded in ensuring a most satisfactory and stylish ensemble ; though it may be that conductor and soloist found difficulty in agreeing on the elusive right tempo for the Rondo. Everywhere de Peyer adheres strictly to the notes Mozart wrote, or to the notes the early editions, possibly arranged, bequeathed to posterity ; and there are places where a little editing does improve the effect. Add a warm recording, and I have no hesitation whatever in thinking this the best version of the Concerto available." M.M. writing in the Gramophone February 1955

1st movement

2nd movement

3rd movement

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