Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Goldwin, John
GOLDWIN, or GOLDING, JOHN (d. 1719), organist and composer, probably belonged to the Buckinghamshire family of Goldwins. His name occurs with those of other Windsor choristers ‘assessed at 1s.’ in 1690. He had been trained by Dr. William Child, and succeeded him as organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, on 12 April 1697, was master of the choristers in 1703, and died on 7 Nov. 1719. Manuscript music by Goldwin includes twenty-one anthems, service in F, and motet in Christ Church Library, Oxford, four anthems in Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, seven anthems in Tudway's collection, British Museum (Harl. 7341–2), and others at Ely Cathedral. The favourite anthem, 'I will set God always before me,' six voices, was published in Boyce's 'Cathedral Music,' vol. ii.; 'I will sing' and 'O praise God in His holiness' in Page's 'Harmonia Sacra,' i. 206, ii. 227; 'Behold thy servant' and service in F major in Arnold's 'Cathedral Music,' vol. i. Burney quotes with approval Boyce's opinion that Goldwin's music has a singularity in its modulation uncommon and agreeable, and adds: 'When we consider the time of his death, it seems, by the small number of his works that have come to my knowledge, as if this composer had anticipated many combinations and passages of a much later period.'
[Chamberlayne's State of England, 1692; Sloane MS. 4847, fol. 86; Boyce's Cathedral Music, ii. 15, 501; catalogues of musical libraries communicated by Mr. W. B. Squire; Burney, iii. 602; Grove, i. 608.]