Composer
Félix Godefroid
Belgian musician (1818–1897)
1818–1897
8 works in the index
- Born
- 1818
- Died
- 1897
- Birthplace
- Namur
- Place of death
- Villers-sur-Mer
- Citizenship / historical state
- Belgium
- Period (estimated from birth year)
- Romantic
Biography
Dieudonné-Félix Godefroid (24 July 1818 - 12 July 1897) was a Belgian harpist, who composed for his instrument and for the piano.
Félix Godefroid was born at Namur, where his father failed in a theatre venture and moved the family to Boulogne-sur-Mer, where he opened a music school. In 1832 Félix entered the Conservatoire de Paris to study harp with François Joseph Naderman and Théodore Labarre. Impressed with the pedal harp perfected by Sébastien Érard, Godefroid elected to pursue a concert career. From 1839, he began a brilliant solo tour through Europe and the Levant. In 1847, Félix Godefroid settled in Paris and finally made his debut there. Called the "Paganini of the harp" he became a great virtuoso, giving concerts throughout Europe.
Besides his pieces for harp and for piano, on which he was also a virtuoso performer, Godefroid composed masses and two operas, La Harpe d'or and La Fille de Saül. His didactic work Mes exercices pour la harpe was employed by several generations of harpists.
The Belgian painter Félicien Rops painted his portrait in August 1856.
His older brother Jules-Joseph Godefroid (1811-1840) was also a harpist and composer.
Godefroid died in Villers-sur-Mer. The Concours Godefroid, established to mark the centennial of his death, is held every three years at his native city of Namur and nearby Belgian cities.
Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.
Life and musical career
- Instruments played
- harp
- Genres
- opera; harp music
- VIAF ID
- 34722122
- ISNI
- 0000000081139901
- GND ID
- 116695714
- Library of Congress ID
- n87146392
- MusicBrainz ID
- da6992fb-c980-4f0a-ab16-797a163ddcfd
Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.
In this catalogue
- Common listed instruments
- Piano
- Works with composition dates
- 1 of 8
These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.
Catalogue
Works
Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.
| Work | Year composed | Catalogue / opus | Key in title | Listed instruments | Genre | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | 2 | |
| Agnus Dei de Mozart, Op.189 | — | Op.189 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Résignation, Romance sans paroles | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Le Réveil des Fauvettes, Op.90 | — | Op.90 | — | Piano | — | 1 |
| Rêverie, Op.135 | ca.1866IMSLP | Op.135 | — | Piano | — | 1 |
| Sonate dramatique pour piano, Op.45 | — | Op.45 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Les Songes Dorés, Op.57 | — | Op.57 | — | Piano | — | 1 |
| Un Soir à Lima, Sérénade | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 34722122. Portrait: Marie-Alexandre Alophe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.