Bream, Julian (Julian Alexander Bream), 1933-, English guitarist and lutenist. Bream was first taught guitar by his father and studied piano and cello at the Royal College of Music. He made his debut at the age of 12. During the 1950s and 60s he led the the Julian Bream Consort, a pioneering period-instrument ensemble. An outstanding performer, Bream had a repertory ranging from Dowland to Henze, and many compositions were written expressly for him, e.g., Benjamin Britten's Nocturnal (1963). He retired in 2002.

bream: see sunfish.

Any of about 100 species (family Sparidae) of generally shallow-water fishes found throughout tropical and temperate seas. Porgies, sometimes called sea breams, are typically high-backed, with a single dorsal fin, a small mouth, and teeth strong enough to handle fishes and hard-shelled invertebrates. Most species do not exceed 1 ft (30 cm) long, but some may grow to 4 ft (120 cm). The South African musselcrackers, popular sport fishes, grow to 100 lbs (45 kg). In Australia and Japan, several species of Chrysophrys are important food fish (called snappers in Australia). The red sea bream inhabits deep European waters. Seealso sheepshead.

Learn more about porgy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

European food and game fish (Abramis brama) of the carp family (Cyprinidae). Found in lakes and slow rivers, the bream lives in schools and eats worms, mollusks, and other small animals. Deep-bodied, with flat sides and a small head, it is silvery with a bluish or brown back. It is usually about 12–20 in. (30–50 cm) long and weighs up to 13 lbs (6 kg). Other species called bream include the silver bream (Blicca bjoorkna), the golden shiner, and the sea breams (family Sparidae).

Learn more about bream with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Bream is a general term for a number of species of freshwater and marine fish, mainly, but not exhaustively, drawn from the genera Abramis (e.g. A. brama, the carp bream); Acanthopagrus; Argyrops; Blicca; Brama; Etelis; Lepomis; Gymnocranius; Lethrinus; Nemipterus; Rhabdosargus and Scolopsis.

Although species from all of these genera are called "bream", the term does not imply a degree of relatedness between these species. Fish termed "bream" tend to be narrow, deep bodied species. The name is a derivation of the Middle English word breme, of Old French origin.

The term sea bream is sometimes used for porgies (family Sparidae) or pomfrets (family Bramidae).

Nutrition

External links

• Fishing for bream in Australia
• Yellowfin Bream (NSW Department of Primary Industries website)
• Black Bream (NSW Department of Primary Industries website)