This biography was written by Vivien Goh about her father, a pioneer musician who played a key role in the development of classical music in postwar Singapore. The book tells the story of Goh Soon Tioe’s musical journey, starting from Singapore where he discovered his calling to become a great violinist to Europe—where as an earnest student, he found himself without the financial support of his family during the Great Depression and having to escape from the Spanish Civil War in 1936. After nine years in Europe, he returned to Singapore a broken man with a crippled dream; he suffered partial paralysis of his fingers in his left hand due to constant malnutrition and thus lost the ability to play violin. After a short hiatus caused by the Second World War, Goh’s musical career took off as a teacher and conductor. In 1962, Goh was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal at the National Day honours for his immense achievements and contributions to Singapore.
