Godefroid, Felix

1818-1897

Celebrated harpist; was born at Namur, Belgium; was a pupil of Nadermann at the Paris Conservatory. Before he was nineteen he had written a trio for piano, violin and violoncello. He lived in Paris for some years, and more recently at Brussels. In 1839 he began giving concerts, first in Germany, then in England, and later through Continental Europe. He has been called the Paganini of the harp.  In 1856 the cross of the Order of Leopold was conferred on him at the twenty-fifth anniversary of Leopold I.'s reign at Brussels, where he took part in the ceremonies. He composed harp-music and salon-music of more than ordinary merit for the piano. La Harpe d'or, La derniere bataille, operas, and La fille de Saul, an oratorio, are other works to his credit.