The Orpheus of Amsterdam
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, one of the most celebrated composers in undivided Western Christendom was Josquin des Prez, who died 500 years ago this year. Conductor Peter Phillips has recently argued that Josquin is a giant among composers because "he mastered all the techniques of his time, turned them into something better, and then passed them on to the next generation of composers, who were all influenced by him."
This year is also an anniversary year for another composer who had a significant influence on subsequent generations. Even less well known than Josquin, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck died 400 years ago this year. Born in 1562 in Deventer, a city in a province now part of the Netherlands, Sweelinck succeeded his father as the organist in Amsterdam's Oude Kerk in 1577. The Old Church is aptly named, as its founding dates to about 1213. That such a prestigious congregation would select a 15-year-old as its organist is testimony to his talent, which blossomed over the years under somewhat constricted circumstances.
The year after young Sweelinck first took over as the church's organist, the Calvinist Synod of Dordrecht called for the removal of all organs from churches. Not only was the instrument not to be used during the austere liturgy—which also prohibited the use of choirs—but the playing of organ preludes prior to the services was to be replaced by readings from the Bible. This produced a conflict between church and state, and it proved fortunate in this case that the organs were owned by the municipal government, not by the congregations.
THIS ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
FOR QUICK ACCESS:
Ken Myers is the host and producer of the Mars Hill Audio Journal. Formerly an arts editor with National Public Radio, he also serves as music director at All Saints Anglican Church in Ivy, Virginia. He is a contributing editor for Touchstone.
Get six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for only $39.95. That's only $3.34 per month!
Get a one-year full-access subscription to the Touchstone online archives for only $19.95. That's only $1.66 per month!
bulk subscriptions
Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.
Transactions will be processed on a secure server.
more from the online archives
18.8—October 2005
European Islam & the Doubtful Future of Christian Europe by William Murchison
23.6—November/December 2010
Darwin, Design & Thomas Aquinas
The Mythical Conflict Between Thomism & Intelligent Design by Logan Paul Gage
27.2—March/April 2014
on C. S. Lewis & the New State Paganism by W. E. Knickerbocker
calling all readers
Please Donate
"There are magazines worth reading but few worth saving . . . Touchstone is just such a magazine."
—Alice von Hildebrand
"Here we do not concede one square millimeter of territory to falsehood, folly, contemporary sentimentality, or fashion. We speak the truth, and let God be our judge. . . . Touchstone is the one committedly Christian conservative journal."
—Anthony Esolen, Touchstone senior editor
