Sidonie Goossens
Encyclopedia
Sidonie "Sid" Goossens OBE
(19 October 1899 in Liscard
, Wallasey
- 15 December 2004 in Reigate
) was one of Britain
's most enduring harp
ists. She made her professional debut in 1921, was a founder member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and went on to play for more than half a century until her retirement in 1981.
in the 19th century. Her father
and grandfather
were both conductors, both called Eugène. Her brother Sir Eugene Goossens
made an international conducting career in the mid-twentieth century and was also a composer. He spent many years working in Australia
as the director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music and chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony. Her brother Léon
was an eminent oboist and her sister Marie was also a distinguished harpist. In 1916, her brother Adolphe, a gifted french horn player was killed in action.
in 1921 she was the only female performer. In 1923 she became the first harpist to be broadcast on the radio
, and followed this up in 1936 by becoming the first to be broadcast on television
.
with whom she played for fifty years (1930–1980). The founder of the orchestra, Adrian Boult
, engaged her as Principal Harp. She also played under guest conductors such as Arturo Toscanini
, Bruno Walter
and Arnold Schoenberg
.
She was a close personal friend of Sir Adrian Boult and Pierre Boulez
, who wrote of her: 'Always her presence was reassuring, her professional conscience irreproachable, her attitude faultless. She loved her metier, her instrument. All this, really, was the reflection of her personality for which I have had from the first instant, not only the greatest admiration, but also an immense affection.'
, who said: 'We can't give a DBE to an orchestral musician'. She retired officially from the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1980, the year of the orchestra's Golden Jubilee. Her final performance was in 1991 during the Last Night of the Proms when she accompanied Dame Gwyneth Jones
in her own arrangement of "The Last Rose of Summer
". There were celebratory concerts for her 100th birthday at London's Wigmore and Royal Festival Halls.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(19 October 1899 in Liscard
Liscard
Liscard is an area of the town of Wallasey, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The most centrally located of Wallasey's townships, it is the main shopping area of the town, with many shops located in the Cherry Tree Shopping Centre...
, Wallasey
Wallasey
Wallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
- 15 December 2004 in Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
) was one of Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
's most enduring harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ists. She made her professional debut in 1921, was a founder member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and went on to play for more than half a century until her retirement in 1981.
The Goossens Family
She was a member of the famous Goossens family that emigrated to England from BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the 19th century. Her father
Eugène Goossens, fils
Eugène Goossens was a French conductor and violinist.He was born in Bordeaux, and studied in Bruges and the conservatoire in Brussels...
and grandfather
Eugène Goossens, père
Eugène Goossens was a Belgian conductor.-Biography:He was born in Bruges and studied music as a child at the Church of Notre Dame, Bruges, then at the Bruges Conservatoire...
were both conductors, both called Eugène. Her brother Sir Eugene Goossens
Eugène Aynsley Goossens
Sir Eugene Aynsley Goossens was an English conductor and composer.-Biography:He was born in Camden Town, London, the son of the Belgian conductor and violinist Eugène Goossens and the grandson of the conductor Eugène Goossens...
made an international conducting career in the mid-twentieth century and was also a composer. He spent many years working in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as the director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music and chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony. Her brother Léon
Léon Goossens
Léon Jean Goossens CBE, FRCM was a British oboist.He was born in Liverpool and studied at the Royal College of Music...
was an eminent oboist and her sister Marie was also a distinguished harpist. In 1916, her brother Adolphe, a gifted french horn player was killed in action.
Early career
As a child, she wanted to become an actress but was encouraged by her father to play the harp. Taught by Miriam Timothy, she was already playing in public by the age of 16. When she joined the London Symphony OrchestraLondon Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
in 1921 she was the only female performer. In 1923 she became the first harpist to be broadcast on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, and followed this up in 1936 by becoming the first to be broadcast on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
BBC Symphony Orchestra
She was a founder member of the BBC Symphony OrchestraBBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
with whom she played for fifty years (1930–1980). The founder of the orchestra, Adrian Boult
Adrian Boult
Sir Adrian Cedric Boult CH was an English conductor. Brought up in a prosperous mercantile family he followed musical studies in England and at Leipzig, Germany, with early conducting work in London for the Royal Opera House and Sergei Diaghilev's ballet company. His first prominent post was...
, engaged her as Principal Harp. She also played under guest conductors such as Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
, Bruno Walter
Bruno Walter
Bruno Walter was a German-born conductor. He is considered one of the best known conductors of the 20th century. Walter was born in Berlin, but is known to have lived in several countries between 1933 and 1939, before finally settling in the United States in 1939...
and Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
.
Personal and family life
Her first husband, the violinist and composer Hyam Greenbaum, died of an alcohol-related problem after their only son died at birth. With her second husband, Norman Millar, she raised pigs and poultry at the 400-year old family home near Dorking in Surrey, where she continued to live after his deathShe was a close personal friend of Sir Adrian Boult and Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, who wrote of her: 'Always her presence was reassuring, her professional conscience irreproachable, her attitude faultless. She loved her metier, her instrument. All this, really, was the reflection of her personality for which I have had from the first instant, not only the greatest admiration, but also an immense affection.'
Final years
She was honoured with a MBE in 1974, and later an OBE in 1980. She was recommended for a Damehood, but this was vetoed by Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, who said: 'We can't give a DBE to an orchestral musician'. She retired officially from the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1980, the year of the orchestra's Golden Jubilee. Her final performance was in 1991 during the Last Night of the Proms when she accompanied Dame Gwyneth Jones
Gwyneth Jones (opera singer)
Dame Gwyneth Jones DBE is a Welsh soprano.Before becoming a professional singer, Dame Gwyneth worked as a secretary at the Pontypool foundry. She studied music at the Royal College of Music, London, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena as well as the International Opera Studio in Zürich...
in her own arrangement of "The Last Rose of Summer
The Last Rose of Summer
The Last Rose of Summer is a poem by Irish poet Thomas Moore, who was a friend of Byron and Shelley. Moore wrote it in 1805 while at Jenkinstown Park in County Kilkenny, Ireland...
". There were celebratory concerts for her 100th birthday at London's Wigmore and Royal Festival Halls.
External links
- telegraph.co.uk
- GOOSSENS, Sidonie International Who's Who. accessed September 8, 2006.