A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Goss, Sir John

GOSS, Sir John, Knight, Mus. Doc., son of Joseph Goss, organist of Fareham, Hants, where he was born in 1800 [App. p.652 "Dec. 27"]. In 1811 he became one of the children of the Chapel Royal under John Stafford Smith, and on leaving the choir became a pupil of Attwood, under whom he completed his musical education. About 1824 he was appointed organist of the new church of St. Luke, Chelsea, and in 38 succeeded Attwood as organist of St. Paul's Cathedral. On the death of William Knyvett in 56 Goss was appointed one of the composers to the Chapel Royal. He was knighted in 1872, and shortly afterwards resigned his appointment at St. Paul's. He graduated as Doctor of Music at Cambridge in 1876. Goss's compositions consist of services and anthems, chants, psalm-tunes, glees, songs, orchestral pieces, etc. Of his anthems the best known are 'If we believe,' written for the funeral of the Duke of Wellington; 'Praise the Lord, O my soul,' composed for the bicentenary festival of the Sons of the Clergy; 'The wilderness'; and 'The Lord is my strength,' composed, together with a 'Te Deum,' for the Thanksgiving for the recovery of the Prince of Wales (Feb. 27, 1872). Of his glees, 'There is beauty on the mountain' is a charming specimen of truly graceful composition. In 1833 he published 'An Introduction to Harmony and Thorough-bass,' a second edition of which appeared in 1847, and which has now reached a 13th edition. In 1841 he edited a collection of 'Chants, Ancient and Modern'; and in 18 [App. p.651 "1856"] the 'Church Psalter and Hymnbook,' in conjunction with the Rev. W. Mercer. He also published 'The Organist's Companion,' a series of voluntaries and interludes, besides other works. His music is always melodious and beautifully written for the voices, and is remarkable for a union of solidity and grace, with a certain unaffected native charm which ought to ensure it a long life. [App. p.651 "date of death, May 10, 1880."]

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