Pieter Hellendaal
Encyclopedia
Pieter Hellendaal was an organist
and violin
ist, and one of the most famous composer
s of Dutch
origin in the 18th century. At age 30, he migrated to England
where he lived for the last 48 of his 78 years.
. At age 12, with little musical training, Hellendaal was appointed in 1733 as organist for the St. Nicholas church in Utrecht
. Four years later, at age 15, he embarked on an educational journey to Italy
for six years (1737–1743). For two years of this journey (1740–1742) he studied in Padua
with Giuseppe Tartini
, the most famous violinist of that time.
Returning in 1742 from Italy to the Netherlands
, Hellendaal sometime in 1744-5 completed his first published work, his Six Violin Sonatas. For two years, 1749 until 1751, he continued his musical studies at Leiden University
.
, and in 1754, he helped Handel with a presentation of Acis and Galatea (HWV49a/b).
From 1760 to 1762, he made his living expenses by working as the organist for St. Margaret's Church in King's Lynn
, Norfolk
, a port town about 110 miles northwest of London.
hired Hellendaal as organist. He taught, gave concerts, composed, and in 1777 was appointed organist in the Chapel of Peterhouse College
. Here he stayed and worked until he died 37 years later in 1799.
His Six Concerti Grossi
(published ca.1758, Opus 3, in eight parts) retained the older style - where several different soloists interact with a somewhat larger group of players who provide the larger orchestral texture - because its popularity lingered for decades after it became unfashionable on the Continent.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, and one of the most famous 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...
s of Dutch
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...
origin in the 18th century. At age 30, he migrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he lived for the last 48 of his 78 years.
Early and Student Years
Hellendaal was born in RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. At age 12, with little musical training, Hellendaal was appointed in 1733 as organist for the St. Nicholas church in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
. Four years later, at age 15, he embarked on an educational journey to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for six years (1737–1743). For two years of this journey (1740–1742) he studied in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
with Giuseppe Tartini
Giuseppe Tartini
Giuseppe Tartini was an Italian baroque composer and violinist.-Biography:Tartini was born in Piran, a town on the peninsula of Istria, in the Republic of Venice to Gianantonio – native of Florence – and Caterina Zangrando, a descendant of one of the oldest aristocratic Piranian families.It...
, the most famous violinist of that time.
Returning in 1742 from Italy to the Netherlands
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...
, Hellendaal sometime in 1744-5 completed his first published work, his Six Violin Sonatas. For two years, 1749 until 1751, he continued his musical studies at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
.
England
In 1752, at age thirty, Hellendaal moved to England where in London he established himself as a prominent composer and violin soloist. He soon made the acquaintance of George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, and in 1754, he helped Handel with a presentation of Acis and Galatea (HWV49a/b).
From 1760 to 1762, he made his living expenses by working as the organist for St. Margaret's Church in King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, a port town about 110 miles northwest of London.
Cambridge University
When he was age forty, in 1762, Pembroke College, CambridgePembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
hired Hellendaal as organist. He taught, gave concerts, composed, and in 1777 was appointed organist in the Chapel of Peterhouse College
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
. Here he stayed and worked until he died 37 years later in 1799.
Works
His works include virtuoso violin sonatas in the Italian late Baroque style; Three Grand Lessons for keyboard, violin, and continuo (published ca. 1790); a cantata, and vocal works (including canons, catches, and glees).His Six Concerti Grossi
Concerto grosso
The concerto grosso is a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists and full orchestra...
(published ca.1758, Opus 3, in eight parts) retained the older style - where several different soloists interact with a somewhat larger group of players who provide the larger orchestral texture - because its popularity lingered for decades after it became unfashionable on the Continent.
Some prominent works
- Six grand concertos opera terzo. - Huntigdon : King's Music, 1991 (Repr. d. Ausg. London 1758)
- A collection of psalms and hymns for the use of parish churches (1793)
Recordings
- Pieter Hellendaal: 6 Concerti Grossi European Community Baroque Orchestra conducted by Roy Goodman. Channel ClassicsChannel Classics RecordsChannel Classics Records is a record label from the Netherlands, specializing in classical music. The managing director and producer is C. Jared Sacks, who grew up in Boston. Sacks was schooled as a professional horn player at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam...
Nl CD
External links
- Hellendaal Concerto Grosso op. 3 no. 1 in g minor on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
: Ton KoopmanTon KoopmanTon Koopman is a conductor, organist and harpsichordist.Koopman had a "classical education" and then studied the organ , harpsichord and musicology in Amsterdam...
and the European Union Baroque OrchestraEuropean Union Baroque OrchestraThe European Union Baroque Orchestra is a training initiative of the European Union which allows young performers of baroque music from all over the EU to gain orchestral experience as part of their career development from conservatoire study into a professional career...
at the 2010 'Indian Summer in Levoca' Festival