Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

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Biography

Born: May, 1562; Deventer, The Netherlands   Died: October 16, 1621; Amsterdam, The Netherlands  
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck was perhaps the most important composer from the Netherlands in the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He is best known for his vocal compositions, typically written for five voices and possible instrumental accompaniment, and for his keyboard works, which included toccatas, chorale variations, and various fantasias. He was also one of the leading teachers in Europe during his time, numbering among his students his Read more son Dirck Sweelinck, Hasse, Scheidt, Praetorius, plus many other notables and founders of the seventeenth century north German organ style that culminated in the music of Bach.

Sweelinck's father was the organist Peter Swybbertszoon and his mother Elske Sweeling. As a child Jan likely had his first music instruction from his father, who served as organist at Amsterdam's Oude Kerk (Old Church) from 1564 until his death in 1574. Young Sweelinck may also have studied with organist Cornelis Boskoop, who succeeded his father at the Oude Kerk for a brief tenure. For some reason Sweelinck changed his name to a variant of his mother's surname, possibly shortly after his father's death.

In any event, his keyboard talents blossomed quickly and Sweelinck succeeded Boskoop at the Oude Kerk, probably in the late 1570s. His post at the church was less a religious one and more a civil appointment, since he actually worked for the city officials of Amsterdam, not the Calvinists who controlled the church services and forbade music performance during them. Sweelinck played the organ probably in the morning and evening during periods free of official church service. He would serve in the organist post for over 40 years and be succeeded by his son, Dirck, whose tenure there was of similar length, ending upon his own death in 1652. Sweelinck's mother died in 1585, leaving the young composer to care for his younger brother and sister, which he ably did.

In 1590 Sweelinck married, and, already receiving a substantial salary, forsook an automatic increase allowed for in his contract upon marriage in favor of an alternate perquisite, that of rent-free living quarters. His wife would give birth to six children, five of whom would survive their father. By the time of his marriage, Sweelinck had already established himself as one of the finest teachers in Europe and had significant income from that activity, as well. In 1594, his first publication appeared, that of a collection of 18 chansons -- works, undoubtedly, that date back to the previous decade. Additional publications came in 1597 and 1604, both collections of psalm settings. While his keyboard works rank in importance with his vocal music, none of it was published during his lifetime.

Another important vocal effort appeared in 1619, the Cantiones sacrae, comprised of 37 motets using Catholic liturgical texts. Because of the composition of this collection and other supporting evidence (his son would be reprimanded for inviting "papists" to a Christmas celebration in 1645), it is believed that Sweelinck and his family were Catholics.

Unlike most composers and artists, Sweelinck led a rather uneventful life, and comparatively little is known of him. He traveled outside Amsterdam only a few times, typically involving matters associated with his post at the Oude Kerk. He did return to Deventer in 1595 and 1616 for brief visits, and traveled to Antwerp (1604), Harderwijk (1608) and Rotterdam (1610). It is almost certain that Sweelinck became a close friend of British composer John Bull (1562-1628), who left England in 1613 to live in Belgium, from where he made trips to the Netherlands. Read less
Browse 26-50 of 140 Available Recordings
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  • 26.
    Christmas Songs / Alin, Orphei Drangar
    Christmas Songs / Alin, Orphei Drangar
    Label: Bis   Catalog: 1833 Release Date: 11/24/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Traditional,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Mel Torme,  Hugh Martin  ... 
    Conductor:  Cecilia Rydinger Alin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Uppsala Chamber Orchestra,  Linne Quintet,  Orphei Drängar
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  • 27.
    Cembalo - Greatest Works
    Cembalo - Greatest Works
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 12362 Release Date: 11/10/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Alessandro Poglietti,  Gottlieb Muffat,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  George Frideric Handel  ... 
    Performer:  Isolde Ahlgrimm,  Hans Pischner,  Violetta Liebsch,  Christine Schornsheim  ... 
    Conductor:  Burkhard Glaetzner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New Bach Collegium Musicum Orchestra
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  • 28.
    Sweelinck: Psaumes Francais & Canciones Sacrae
    Sweelinck: Psaumes Francais & Canciones Sacrae
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 902033 Release Date: 11/10/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Conductor:  Daniel Reuss
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cappella Amsterdam
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  • 29.
    A Treasury Of Harpsichord Favorites / Igor Kipnis
    A Treasury Of Harpsichord Favorites / Igor Kipnis
    Label: Music & Arts Programs Of America   Catalog: 243 Release Date: 10/13/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anonymous,  William Byrd,  John Bull,  Orlando Gibbons  ... 
    Performer:  Igor Kipnis
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  • 30.
    Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen / Kopp, Vocal Concert Dresden
    Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen / Kopp, Vocal Concert Dresden
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 16442 Release Date: 10/09/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Michael Praetorius,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Xaver Gruber  ... 
    Conductor:  Peter Kopp
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Dresden Vocal Concert
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  • 31.
    Fantasie Through Time / Kimberly Marshall
    Fantasie Through Time / Kimberly Marshall
    Label: Loft Recordings   Catalog: 1108 Release Date: 09/08/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Anthony [16th C.] Newman,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Kimberly Marshall
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  • 32.
    Sweelinck: Music For Harpsichord / Glen Wilson
    Sweelinck: Music For Harpsichord / Glen Wilson
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8570894 Release Date: 05/26/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  John Dowland,  Martin Luther,  Melchior Schildt
    Performer:  Glen Wilson
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  • 33.
    Sweelinck: The Secular Vocal Works / Harry Van Der Kamp, Gesualdo Consort
    Sweelinck: The Secular Vocal Works / Harry Van Der Kamp, Gesualdo Consort
    Label: Glossa   Catalog: 922401 Release Date: 05/26/2009   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Conductor:  Harry Van der Kamp
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Gesualdo Consort
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  • 34.
    Fiesta Andina - Orgues Historiques d'Andahuaylillas / Chapelet, Valadeau, Percca
    Fiesta Andina - Orgues Historiques d'Andahuaylillas / Chapelet, Valadeau, Percca
    Label: K 617   Catalog: 617214 Release Date: 05/05/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anonymous,  Francisco Correa de Arauxo,  Pietro Philippi,  Domenico Zipoli  ... 
    Performer:  Juan Capistrano Percca,  Francis Chapelet,  Uriel Valadeau
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  • 35.
    The Sacred Flame / John Rutter, Cambridge Singers, La Nuova Musica
    The Sacred Flame / John Rutter, Cambridge Singers, La Nuova Musica
    Label: Collegium Records   Catalog: 134 Release Date: 05/05/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Heinrich Schütz,  Hans Leo Hassler,  Tomás Luis de Victoria  ... 
    Performer:  Katy Hill,  James Holiday,  Ben Breakwell,  Gabriel Crouch  ... 
    Conductor:  John Rutter
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cambridge Singers,  La nuova musica
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  • 36.
    Sweelinck: Keyboard Works Vol 2 / Robert Woolley
    Sweelinck: Keyboard Works Vol 2 / Robert Woolley
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 758 Release Date: 03/31/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Performer:  Robert Woolley
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  • 37.
    Fitzwilliam Virginal Book / Jovanka Marville
    Fitzwilliam Virginal Book / Jovanka Marville
    Label: Aeon   Catalog: 865 Release Date: 03/04/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giles Farnaby,  John Bull,  William Byrd,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Performer:  Yovanka Marville
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  • 38.
    Music For Christmas
    Music For Christmas
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 1462 Release Date: 12/01/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Michael Praetorius,  Antonio Vivaldi,  Traditional  ... 
    Performer:  Eckart Haupt,  Peter Schreier,  Burkhard Glaetzner
    Conductor:  Martin Flämig,  Hans-Joachim Rotzsch,  Peter Schreier,  Burkhard Glaetzner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Dresden Kreuz Choir,  Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra,  Leipzig Thomaner Choir  ... 
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  • 39.
    Die Vögel Unter Dem Himmel - Scheidt, Schütz, Scheidemann, Etc / Brewer, Kitchen, Battling, Et Al
    Die Vögel Unter Dem Himmel - Scheidt, Schütz, Scheidemann, Etc / Brewer, Kitchen, Battling, Et Al
    Label: Delphian   Catalog: 34043 Release Date: 11/25/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Heinrich Schütz,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Samuel Scheidt,  Heinrich Scheidemann
    Performer:  Edward Battling,  John Kitchen
    Conductor:  Mike Brewer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  National Youth Choir of Great Britain
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  • 40.
    Baroque Organ Music - Peter Hurford
    Baroque Organ Music - Peter Hurford
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 414496 Release Date: 10/29/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Stanley,  William Walond,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Giovanni B. Pescetti  ... 
    Performer:  Peter Hurford
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  • 41.
    Christmas In Heaven
    Christmas In Heaven
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 29262 Release Date: 10/29/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn,  Johannes Crüger,  Traditional,  Dietrich Buxtehude  ... 
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  • 42.
    Glory And Damnation - Bach, Buxtehude, Mozart, Sweelinck, Brahms, Etc / Thomas, Staemmler
    Glory And Damnation - Bach, Buxtehude, Mozart, Sweelinck, Brahms, Etc / Thomas, Staemmler
    Label: Phoenix Edition   Catalog: 134 Release Date: 10/28/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Felix Mendelssohn  ... 
    Performer:  Friedrich Thomas,  Hans Jacob Staemmler
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  • 43.
    History Of The Organ Vol 2 - From Sweelinck To Bach
    History Of The Organ Vol 2 - From Sweelinck To Bach
    Label: Arthaus Musik   Catalog: 102113 Release Date: 09/30/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Matthias Weckman,  Dietrich Buxtehude,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck  ... 
    Performer:  Gustav Leonhardt,  Bernard Foccroulle,  Hans Heintze
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  • 44.
    Baroque Recorder Music / Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
    Baroque Recorder Music / Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
    Label: L'oiseau Lyre   Catalog: 421130 Release Date: 09/16/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Samuel Scheidt,  Henry Purcell  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Loeki Stardust Quartet Amsterdam
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  • 45.
    Basics - Silent Night - Music For Christmas Time
    Basics - Silent Night - Music For Christmas Time
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 185812 Release Date: 09/09/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Michael Praetorius,  Johann Hermann Schein,  Leonhard Schröter,  Franz Xaver Murschauser  ... 
    Performer:  Peter Schreier,  Theo Adam,  Burkhard Glaetzner
    Conductor:  Martin Flämig,  Burkhard Glaetzner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra,  Leipzig St. Thomas Church Choir,  Dresden Kreuz Choir  ... 
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  • 46.
    Carole Terry Plays The Watjen Concert Organ
    Carole Terry Plays The Watjen Concert Organ
    Label: Loft Recordings   Catalog: 1105 Release Date: 09/09/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Robert Schumann  ... 
    Performer:  Carole Terry
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  • 47.
    Art And Music - Rembrandt - Music Of His Time
    Art And Music - Rembrandt - Music Of His Time
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8558118 Release Date: 08/26/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Michael Praetorius,  Johann Rosenmüller,  Johann J. L von Eisenach,  William Lawes  ... 
    Performer:  Knut Johannessen,  Niklas Eklund,  Marc Ullrich,  Jacob Heringman  ... 
    Conductor:  Bertil Färnlöf,  Kevin Mallon,  Jeremy Summerly
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Westra Aros Pijpare,  Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca,  Verona Accademia Strumentale Italiana  ... 
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  • 48.
    Sweelinck: Allein Gott In Der Hoh' Sei Ehr', Etc; Scheidemann, Byrd, Etc / Jonathan Dimmock
    Sweelinck: Allein Gott In Der Hoh' Sei Ehr', Etc; Scheidemann, Byrd, Etc / Jonathan Dimmock
    Label: Loft Recordings   Catalog: 1106 Release Date: 08/12/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Performer:  Jonathan Dimmock
    CD: $24.99
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  • 49.
    Trumpet Masque / Jonathan Freeman-attwood, Daniel Pienaar
    Trumpet Masque / Jonathan Freeman-attwood, Daniel Pienaar
    Label: Linn Records   Catalog: 310 Release Date: 04/01/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Heinrich Schütz,  Francisco Correa de Arauxo,  Georg Muffat,  Heinrich Ignaz Biber  ... 
    Performer:  Daniel-Ben Pienaar,  Jonathan Freeman-Attwood
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  • 50.
    Sweelinck: Choral Works Vol 2 / Herreweghe, Phillips, Et Al
    Sweelinck: Choral Works Vol 2 / Herreweghe, Phillips, Et Al
    Label: Etcetera Records   Catalog: 1319 Release Date: 03/25/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Performer:  Titia de Zwart,  Willem Bremer,  Charles Toet,  Stephen Stubbs  ... 
    Conductor:  Jan Boeke,  Philippe Herreweghe,  Peter Phillips
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Netherlands Chamber Choir
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