IMSLP Forums

The composer's given name is Andre George Louis Onslow. He did not go by the names of Andre or Louis, and he certainly did not go by the name of Georges. Even Wikipedia finally got it right. Though he was born in France and lived most of his life there and considered himself French, he was only half French. His father was English, named him after his famous grandfather, Lord George Onslow. Every reliable reference source from the New Grove, to Cobbett's to Baudim Jam and Vivienne Niaux and R.H.R. Silvertrust (his various biographers) refer to him correctly as George.

Opinion in the major library catalogues is divided, according to VIAF. Those for the United States (Library of Congress), Germany, Sweden, Spain, Canada, Israel, Portugal and New Zealand have settled on "Georges", while only Poland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and France use "George".

Music dictionaries are similarly divided, with the current version of Grove using "George", and the Oxford Dictionary of Music using "Georges". So the situation isn't quite as clear cut as the original poster suggests.

In deciding which form to use on IMSLP, I think we should give greater weight to the views of the national library where the person was a citizen. Grove notes that Onslow was a "French composer of English descent", and he was born and died in France, despite living in London for a time in his youth. Since the Bibliothèque nationale de France prefers "George" over "Georges", maybe we should do the same?

Seems reasonable to me. Other opinions?

klossbruhe wrote:Every reliable reference source from the New Grove, to Cobbett's to Baudim Jam and Vivienne Niaux and R.H.R. Silvertrust (his various biographers) refer to him correctly as George.

Well, the most recent citation LC uses is from the New Grove (not the current version), and they give it as:

Onslow, (André) Georges (Louis); b. July 27, 1784, Clermont-Ferrand, d. Oct. 3, 1853, Clermont-Ferrand; French composer of English descent

I'm no expert on these types of things but I'm guessing that Onslow's principal residence in France (and his death there) was a deciding factor in LC's adoption of the French form of his name. BNF's usage of 'George' seems to me so far to be the best argument in favor of making the suggested change, but 'Georges' seems so well-established and standard that I'd be rather hesitant, personally.

There is a "George Onslow society", see here: http://www.georgeonslow.com . So I think, IMSLP should use the name George Onslow too.

I would also point out that the composer did not sign his name Georges but George. Examination of his corresponce q.v. the works of Baudim Jam, Vivienne Niaux, Richard Frank & R.H.R. Silvertrust to name a few of the top authorities on this composer confirm this. Surely if the composer called himself George and signed himself George, he ought to be called George. All of the above referenced instances of Georges are errors based on the assumption by second hand authorities that since Onslow was French, his name must have been Georges and not the English version. These reference sources clearly are unaware that though he considered himself French, he was by birth only half French and during the French Revolution and Consulate, he and his English father were regarded as English and forced to live abroad to escape death. Surely the BNF would have been happy to call him Georges if that had been his name.

The category "Onslow, Georges" has now been moved to "Onslow, George".