Amina Goodwin Explained

Amina Goodwin (1867 – 1942) was an English pianist, composer, and music educator who founded the London Trio.

Early life and training

The daughter of John Lawrence Goodwin, a Manchester organist and violinist, she began performing at the age of six,^[1] but received mixed reception as to her 'child prodigy' status at least until the age of fourteen.^{[2] [3]}

She studied at the Leipzig Conservatory for four years from the age of eleven, followed by the Paris Conservatory under Élie-Miriam Delaborde for two years. On the guarantee of Camille Saint-Saëns, she became a pupil of Franz Liszt and of Clara Schumann.

Teaching and writing

On her return to England, she performed at the Crystal Palace Saturday concerts and toured Europe as a piano soloist. She had established herself as a piano teacher in London by 1898.^[4]

Her compositions for piano included an intermezzo, toccata, gavotte and study.

She wrote the instructional Practical Hints on the Technique and Touch of Piano Playing^[5] as well as several articles on technique in the Etude magazine^[6] and contributions to Cobbett’s Cyclopedia.^[7]

London Trio

In 1889 she formed the London Trio with William Whitehouse and a Mr Werner,^[8] who was later replaced on violin by Achille Simonetti^[9] and then Louis Pécskai.^[10] It was credited with being the first classical trio in England, and was a staple of the London music scene for many years.^[11]

Personal life

She married an American husband, W. Ingram-Adams, but continued performing as 'Madame Amina Goodwin.'

Notes and References

1. News: 16 Feb 1898 . Piano . Musical Courier . 6–7.
2. News: 5 Sep 1874 . Promenade Concerts . The Musical Standard . 144.
3. News: 1 July 1876 . Music in North Germany . The Monthly Musical Record . 108.
4. Book: Elson, Arthur . Woman's Work in Music . 2020-09-28 . Library of Alexandria . 978-1-4655-8406-9 . en.
5. Book: Goodwin, Amina . Practical Hints on the Technique & Touch of Pianoforte Playing . 1904 . Augener & Company . en.
6. Book: Dennis, Pamela Richardson . An Index to Articles Published in The Etude Magazine, 1883-1957, Par t 1 . 2011-01-01 . A-R Editions, Inc. . 978-0-89579-711-7 . 521 . en.
7. Book: Seddon, Laura . British Women Composers and Instrumental Chamber Music in the Early Twentieth Century . 2016-04-15 . Routledge . 978-1-317-17134-8 . 179 . en.
8. News: Nov 1906 . The London Trio . The Violin Times . 170 . 14.
9. Book: Seddon, Laura . British Women Composers and Instrumental Chamber Music in the Early Twentieth Century . 2016-04-15 . Routledge . 978-1-317-17134-8 . 120 . en.
10. News: 9 Jan 1915 . Musical Gossip . The Athenæum . 37 . 4550 . Buckingham . James Silk . Sterling . John . Maurice . Frederick Denison . Stebbing . Henry . Dilke . Charles Wentworth . Hervey . Thomas Kibble . Dixon . William Hepworth . MacColl . Norman . Rendall . Vernon Horace . Murry . John Middleton .
11. Book: Cobbett, Walter Willson . Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music . 1929 . Oxford University Press . 103 . en.