This English composer, organist and teacher was active in the playing, arranging and collecting of sacred music. He served as one of the composers to the Chapel Royal from 1856 until his death although he did not serve directly after 1872. He received an honorary doctorate from Cambridge in 1876. Goss collected a number of pieces and wrote treatises as wel. "The Piano Forte Student's Cathechism," and "257 Chnats, Ancient and Modern," are illustrative of both treatises and collections from the work of John Goss. The body of his compositions include only glees and sacred vocal pieces in addition to one opera, "The Serjeant's Wife." The musical strains of Goss' compositions were sweet and the harmonies were sonorous combined by an altogether unified elegance. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi