Dean Goffin

Dean Goffin

Biography

Sir Dean Goffin (9 July 1916, Wellington, N.Z. - 23 January 1984, Auckland, N.Z.) was a New Zealander composer and conductor.

A graduate of the University of Otago (1950), Goffin initially served in New Zealand and then Great Britain. Except for a period during World War II, when he was a military bandmaster, Goffin spent his entire life in the service of the Salvation Army. He was active in Salvation Army musical life from an early age. At the age of 19, he became bandmaster of the Wellington South Corps. During World War II, he served as a military musician, forming and training the band of the 20th Infantry Battalion of the 4th Brigade that was active in the Middle East. He was National Bandmaster (1956 1960) and National Secretary (1960-1966) for bands and songster brigades. In 1966, he was transferred back to New Zealand, where he was finally appointed to the position of Territorial Commander (1980). In 1983, Goffin was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honors List.

Nearly all of his works are for brass band, but some are known to have been transcribed for concert band. His Rhapsody in Brass was selected as the test piece for the 1949 British Open Brass Band Championship.

Works for Winds

• Light of the World, The (arr. Woude)
• Red Shield, The (arr. Bird) (2008)
• Rhapsody in Brass
• Victorious (arr. Bulla)

Resources

• Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Dean Goffin." Accessed 16 August 2016.