GOSSEC, FRANCOIS JOSEPH French musical composer, son of a small farmer, was born at the village of Vergnies, in Belgian Hainaut, and became a choir-boy at Ant werp. He went to Paris in 1751 and was introduced by Rameau to La Popeliniere, a wealthy amateur, who made him conductor of his private band. His first symphony was performed in and as conductor to the Prince de Conde's orchestra he produced several operas and some 3o symphonies. Gossec gave enormous stimulus to the development of orchestral and chamber music in France. He died at Passy on Feb. 16, 1829.
See the Lives by P. Hedouin (1852) and E. G. J. Gregoir (1878) ; also F. Hellouin, Gossec et la musique francaise a la fin du XVIIIe siecle (19o3) .