During the early and middle parts of the 20th century, he was considered among the premier oboists in the world. He joined the Queen's Hall Orchestra (conducted by Henry Wood) at the age of 15 and was later (1932) engaged by Sir Thomas Beecham for the newly founded London Philharmonic Orchestra, but he also enjoyed a rich solo and chamber-music career. He became famous for a uniquely pleasing sound few other oboists could match.[1] Oboists of the past had tended to be divided between the French school (elegant but thin and reedy in tone) and the German (full and rounded but rather clumsy, with little or no vibrato), but Goossens brought together the best qualities of both styles.[3]
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1950 and made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music in 1962. He married his second wife Lucie Leslie Burrowes in 1933 and there were three daughters: Benedicta, Jennie (an actress) and Corinne.[6]
Works commissioned/dedicated to Léon Goossensedit
Concerto for Oboe and Strings, Op. 39, Malcolm Arnold
Oboe Quartet, Op. 61 (1957), Malcolm Arnold
Sonatina for Oboe and Piano, Op. 28, Malcolm Arnold
^ abcRosen, Carole. The Goossens: A Musical Century (1993)
^"News of Former Pupils". St Edward's College Magazine. 5 (4): 7. 1987–88. Retrieved 23 August 2020. In 1905 weekly lessons at the Liverpool College of Music inspired the young Leon to take up the oboe with such effect that he played in the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Beecham at the age of twelve!
^ abJohn Warrack, "Goossens, Léon Jean (1897–1988)", in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004); online edition, accessed 30 January 2008.
^Jennie Goossens. 'A memory of my father', Oboe Classics
^Leon Goossens plays Arnold Cooke, Oboe Classics CC2317 (2021)
External linksedit
From Oboe Classics
December 02, 2023
léon, goossens, léon, jean, goossens, frcm, june, 1897, february, 1988, english, oboist, blue, plaque, edith, road, west, kensington, london, contents, career, works, commissioned, dedicated, references, external, linkscareer, editgoossens, born, liverpool, la. Leon Jean Goossens CBE FRCM 12 June 1897 13 February 1988 was an English oboist 1 Blue plaque 70 Edith Road West Kensington London Contents 1 Career 2 Works commissioned dedicated to Leon Goossens 3 References 4 External linksCareer editGoossens was born in Liverpool Lancashire and studied at Liverpool College of Music 2 and the Royal College of Music His father was violinist and conductor Eugene Goossens his brother the conductor and composer Eugene Aynsley Goossens and his sisters the harpists Marie and Sidonie Goossens 3 In 1916 his brother Adolphe a gifted French horn player was killed in action at the Somme 4 During the early and middle parts of the 20th century he was considered among the premier oboists in the world He joined the Queen s Hall Orchestra conducted by Henry Wood at the age of 15 and was later 1932 engaged by Sir Thomas Beecham for the newly founded London Philharmonic Orchestra but he also enjoyed a rich solo and chamber music career He became famous for a uniquely pleasing sound few other oboists could match 1 Oboists of the past had tended to be divided between the French school elegant but thin and reedy in tone and the German full and rounded but rather clumsy with little or no vibrato but Goossens brought together the best qualities of both styles 3 Goossens commissioned a number of works for the oboe from such distinguished composers as Sir Edward Elgar Ralph Vaughan Williams and Rutland Boughton and collaborated extensively with other prominent soloists such as Yehudi Menuhin Amongst his many pupils were the oboists Evelyn Barbirolli Joy Boughton daughter of Rutland Boughton and Peter Graeme oboist of the Melos Ensemble 5 He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE in 1950 and made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music in 1962 He married his second wife Lucie Leslie Burrowes in 1933 and there were three daughters Benedicta Jennie an actress and Corinne 6 Works commissioned dedicated to Leon Goossens editConcerto for Oboe and Strings Op 39 Malcolm Arnold Oboe Quartet Op 61 1957 Malcolm Arnold Sonatina for Oboe and Piano Op 28 Malcolm Arnold Quintet for Oboe and Strings Arnold Bax Quintet for Oboe and Strings Arthur Bliss 5 Concerto No 2 for Oboe and Strings in G Rutland Boughton Sonata for Oboe and Piano York Bowen Phantasy Quartet for oboe violin viola and cello Benjamin Britten Sonata for Oboe and Piano Arnold Cooke 7 Three Pieces for Oboe and Piano Thomas Dunhill Soliloquy for oboe Edward Elgar Idyll for oboe and orchestra 1926 Harry Farjeon Interlude Op 21 for oboe and string quartet Gerald Finzi Concerto Op 45 by his brother Eugene Goossens Parfums de Nuits three miniatures for oboe and orchestra 1922 Hyam Greenbaum 1 Sonata for Oboe and Piano Herbert Howells Quartet for Oboe and Strings Gordon Jacob French Suite for Oboe and Piano Alan Richardson Concerto in A minor for Oboe and Strings Ralph Vaughan WilliamsReferences edit a b c Rosen Carole The Goossens A Musical Century 1993 News of Former Pupils St Edward s College Magazine 5 4 7 1987 88 Retrieved 23 August 2020 In 1905 weekly lessons at the Liverpool College of Music inspired the young Leon to take up the oboe with such effect that he played in the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Beecham at the age of twelve a b John Warrack Goossens Leon Jean 1897 1988 in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 online edition accessed 30 January 2008 Commonwealth War Graves records a b Bliss Clarinet Quintet Oboe Quintet Melos Ensemble Gramophone Jennie Goossens A memory of my father Oboe Classics Leon Goossens plays Arnold Cooke Oboe Classics CC2317 2021 External links editFrom Oboe Classics International Double Reed Society Article British Double Reed Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leon Goossens amp oldid 1184810370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
