Matthijs Vermeulen (1888-1967)

[pjme]

I have just discovered this wonderful string quartet

I have just discovered this wonderful string quartet

It would be good if someone knowledgeable would open a thread on post war Dutch music - I suspect there are some very good things to discover.

There are some good books on Dutch composers (Leo Samama) and Ton Braas wrote a massive biography on Vermeulen. But most in depth studies on Dutch music are not translated, I fear.
thanks for mentioning the string quartet , which I hadn't listened to in years...



https://www.leosamama.nl/

[KevinP]

Vermeulen's Third Symphony randomly popped up on my YouTube recommendations, though I'd never heard his music before. Normally I don't listen to music chosen by an algorithm, but on a whim I did (he died the year I was born, so I may have felt a little connection there) and what an amazing work that was!

I must hear more.

[pjme]

I must hear more.

Good! 

 In a Donemus article Leo Samama (°1951, Dutch composer and musicologist), states that for Vermeulen " a symphony is an ordered construction of singing material".
Vermeulens music is , unconventional  but remains ,imho, supremely personal, fiery and, ultimately, optimistic.

[KevinP]

This was some of the most convincing dissonant music I've heard in some time.

[pjme]

Not all music by Vermeulen is that dissonant. 

Read more about this play (incl. photographs) at

https://matthijsvermeulen.nl/leven-en-werk

[KevinP]

Bought this:



which includes symphonies 2, 6 and 7. Unfortunately, this is the extent of his symphonies on Presto Music. I think it's the only title they have that's consists of only his works.