Richard Hol
Encyclopedia
Richard Hol was a Dutch
composer
and conductor
, based for most of his career at Utrecht
. His conservative music showed the influence of Felix Mendelssohn
and Robert Schumann
and the Leipzig school, though as a conductor he offered Dutch audiences the modern music of Hector Berlioz
and Richard Wagner
.
; after his graduation in 1844 he made a living as piano accompanist. In part on the basis of his choral compositions he was appointed director of the Amsterdamse Toonkunstkoor in 1857. In 1862, when Johannes Verhulst
was appointed to the position, Hol removed to Utrecht
, where he came to occupy the center of musical life, taking up the post of Ferdinand Kufferath in directing the city concerts (stadsconcerten) and the Utrecht Toonkunstkoor for the remainder of his life. In addition he was organist at the cathedral, 1869-1888.
From 1875 he served as director of the Stedelijke Muziekschool at Utrecht, teaching music theory and history himself. Among his prominent pupils were Johan Wagenaar
, who succeeded him as teacher and cathedral organist, and Catharina van Rennes.
In his last years Hol published pieces in numerous journals and served from 1894 until his death as editor of the organ
journal Het Orgel. When the Nederlandsche Toonkunstenaars-Vereeniging was founded in 1875, he served as its first director. Among the many decorations he received was his appointment in 1875 as a corresponding member of the Académie française
.
He composed an anthem for Transvaal
, in use until the British occuped it in 1887. His posthumous reputation remained largely confined to Dutch audiences and choral singing groups, until his four symphonies began to be recorded at the close of the 20th century.
His vaderlandische legende ("patriotic legend") for chorus, orchestra and organ, De Vliegende Hollander ("The Flying Dutchman"), Op. 70 (1874) was described in 1904 as frequently performed, in Le Guide Musical, reviewing a concert with a performance of the ballad, in The Hague
..
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...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, based for most of his career at 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...
. His conservative music showed the influence of Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
and Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
and the Leipzig school, though as a conductor he offered Dutch audiences the modern music of Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
and Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
.
Life
Richard Hol followed a course in piano under Jan George Bertelman at the royal conservatory of AmsterdamConservatorium van Amsterdam
The Conservatorium van Amsterdam is a Dutch academy of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, the city's vocational university of arts...
; after his graduation in 1844 he made a living as piano accompanist. In part on the basis of his choral compositions he was appointed director of the Amsterdamse Toonkunstkoor in 1857. In 1862, when Johannes Verhulst
Johannes Verhulst
Johannes Joseph Hermann Verhulst was a Dutch composer and conductor. As a composer mainly of songs and as administrator of Dutch musical life, his influence during his lifetime was considerable.-Life:As a boy, Verhulst sang in a catholic choir; here he distinguished himself by his gift for music...
was appointed to the position, Hol removed to 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...
, where he came to occupy the center of musical life, taking up the post of Ferdinand Kufferath in directing the city concerts (stadsconcerten) and the Utrecht Toonkunstkoor for the remainder of his life. In addition he was organist at the cathedral, 1869-1888.
From 1875 he served as director of the Stedelijke Muziekschool at Utrecht, teaching music theory and history himself. Among his prominent pupils were Johan Wagenaar
Johan Wagenaar
Johan Wagenaar was a Dutch composer and organist.-Life:Born in Utrecht, out of wedlock, he was the son of Cypriaan Gerard Berger van Hengst and Johanna Wagenaar. Wagenaar's parents were of different social strata: his father was an aristocrat, while his mother was of more humble origins...
, who succeeded him as teacher and cathedral organist, and Catharina van Rennes.
In his last years Hol published pieces in numerous journals and served from 1894 until his death as editor of the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
journal Het Orgel. When the Nederlandsche Toonkunstenaars-Vereeniging was founded in 1875, he served as its first director. Among the many decorations he received was his appointment in 1875 as a corresponding member of the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
.
He composed an anthem for Transvaal
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
, in use until the British occuped it in 1887. His posthumous reputation remained largely confined to Dutch audiences and choral singing groups, until his four symphonies began to be recorded at the close of the 20th century.
His vaderlandische legende ("patriotic legend") for chorus, orchestra and organ, De Vliegende Hollander ("The Flying Dutchman"), Op. 70 (1874) was described in 1904 as frequently performed, in Le Guide Musical, reviewing a concert with a performance of the ballad, 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...
..
Symphonies
- No. 1 in C minor (1863)
- No. 2 in D minor, op. 44 (1866, published 1868 by Th. J. Roothaan & Co. of Amsterdam)
- No. 3 in B, op. 101 (1867/1884)
- No. 4 in A major (1889)
Ballads
- Der blinde König, Ballade after Ludwig UhlandLudwig UhlandJohann Ludwig Uhland , was a German poet, philologist and literary historian.-Biography:He was born in Tübingen, then Duchy of Württemberg, and studied jurisprudence at the university there, but also took an interest in medieval literature, especially old German and French poetry...
, op.39 (published 1866 or 1867) - De vliegende hollander, op. 70 (about 1880)
Songs and song cycles
- See also
- Des visschers bruid. Gedicht van Frisius (pseud. of H. G. H. Groenewegen) voor mezzo sopraan met piano. Op. 7. (pub. 1855)
- 2 Lieder, Warum and Wanderlied.
- Drie liederen : voor mannenstemmen (solo en koor), op. 22 (texts by Nicolaas Beets and by Frisius)
- Liederen for 2 singers and piano, op. 53
- Prijsliederen, op. 56 (texts by Th. van Rijswijck)
- Uw naam, op. 67 (after Frisius)
- De jeugdige zanger, op. 71
Oratorios and Cantatas
- David, Dramatisches Gedicht für Chor, Solo und Orchester, op. 81 (pub. 1881)
Liturgical Music
- MassMass (music)The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
no.1, op.28 (pub.1865) - Psalm 23, Op.35 (published 1864)
Organ music
- Fugues (1862)
- Andante funèbre, A minor (1869)
- Prelude and fugue, C minor (1872)
- Pastorale, G major (1872, revised 1875)
- Élégisch toonstuk, op. 131, F major (published 1890s. For organ or harmonium)