Harry Bannink
Encyclopedia
Harry Bannink was a Dutch
composer
, arranger
and pianist
. He wrote over 3,000 songs.
Bannink studied at the Royal Conservatory
in The Hague
, receiving his degree in 1946. He started his musical career in the late fifties, when he joined a small dance-orchestra as pianist. His compositions for the play "Het staat u vrij" (Delftsch Studenten Corps, 1958) where his first works for the theatre. Later he would write music for lots of songs by Wim Sonneveld
, Wieteke Van Dort and especially Annie M.G. Schmidt. . He wrote music for many Dutch TV-shows, including Ja zuster, nee zuster, t Schaep met de 5 poten, Sesamstraat
, and De Stratemakeropzeeshow. Since 1973 he worked with Edwin Rutten on the weekly children's TV show De film van ome Willem (in which he appeared as head of the music-ensemble on every episode) and writer Willem Wilmink
, with whom he wrote a lot of songs for the Dutch children's education program Het Klokhuis.
Together with Annie M.G. Schmidt he wrote several Dutch musicals. Later, he would also write the music for the funeral of Schmidt. Among his last musical activities were a CD - on which he sang some of his own compositions - and a book with piano-arrangements of all the songs from the series Ja zuster, nee zuster. He died, aged 70, of cardiac arrest and was buried at the New Cemetery in Enschede.
In 2000, a documentary about Harry Bannink and his work was released on Dutch television. In his birthplace Enschede, a theatre was named after him, as was a street in Amsterdam.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. He wrote over 3,000 songs.
Bannink studied at the Royal Conservatory
Royal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, receiving his degree in 1946. He started his musical career in the late fifties, when he joined a small dance-orchestra as pianist. His compositions for the play "Het staat u vrij" (Delftsch Studenten Corps, 1958) where his first works for the theatre. Later he would write music for lots of songs by Wim Sonneveld
Wim Sonneveld
Willem 'Wim' Sonneveld was a Dutch cabaret artist and singer. Together with Toon Hermans and Wim Kan, he is considered to be one of the 'Great Three' of Dutch cabaret. Sonneveld is generally viewed as a Dutch cultural icon for his work and legacy in theatre, musicals and music...
, Wieteke Van Dort and especially Annie M.G. Schmidt. . He wrote music for many Dutch TV-shows, including Ja zuster, nee zuster, t Schaep met de 5 poten, Sesamstraat
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, and De Stratemakeropzeeshow. Since 1973 he worked with Edwin Rutten on the weekly children's TV show De film van ome Willem (in which he appeared as head of the music-ensemble on every episode) and writer Willem Wilmink
Willem Wilmink
Willem Wilmink was a Dutch poet and writer. He was best known for his the large number of songs he wrote for popular children programs....
, with whom he wrote a lot of songs for the Dutch children's education program Het Klokhuis.
Together with Annie M.G. Schmidt he wrote several Dutch musicals. Later, he would also write the music for the funeral of Schmidt. Among his last musical activities were a CD - on which he sang some of his own compositions - and a book with piano-arrangements of all the songs from the series Ja zuster, nee zuster. He died, aged 70, of cardiac arrest and was buried at the New Cemetery in Enschede.
In 2000, a documentary about Harry Bannink and his work was released on Dutch television. In his birthplace Enschede, a theatre was named after him, as was a street in Amsterdam.