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 51-75 of 139 Available Recordings
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  • 51.
    2007 Midwest Clinic - Austin Symphonic Band
    2007 Midwest Clinic - Austin Symphonic Band
    Label: Mark Records   Catalog: 7322 Release Date: 01/01/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Adolphus Hailstork,  Rob Grice,  Brant Karrick  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Austin Symphonic Band
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  • 52.
    Jan Kalsbeek Fecit / Alert-jan Roelofs
    Jan Kalsbeek Fecit / Alert-jan Roelofs
    Label: Cd Baby   Catalog: 160651 Release Date: 11/27/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Domenico Scarlatti,  Jacques Duphly,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Georg Böhm  ... 
    Performer:  Albert-jan Roelofs
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  • 53.
    Best Carols 100
    Best Carols 100
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 10371 Release Date: 11/06/2007   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Traditional,  William J. Kirkpatrick,  Henry Walford Davies,  Patrick Hadley  ... 
    Performer:  Francis Grier,  Jeremy Blandford,  Barbara Hendricks,  Hermann Prey  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Philip Ledger,  Sir David Willcocks,  John Rutter,  Andrew Parrott  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cambridge King's College Choir,  Clare College Choir,  Clare College Orchestra  ... 
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  • 54.
    Organs Of Chicago - Thirty-five Historic Pipe Organs
    Organs Of Chicago - Thirty-five Historic Pipe Organs
    Label: Raven Recordings   Catalog: 2 Release Date: 11/06/2007   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Charles-Marie Widor,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Philip Paul Bliss,  Seth Bingham  ... 
    Performer:  William Aylesworth,  Jason Alden,  Robert Woodworth,  Will Headlee  ... 
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  • 55.
    Puer Nobis Nascitur - Christmas Carols
    Puer Nobis Nascitur - Christmas Carols
    Label: Challenge   Catalog: 72234 Release Date: 09/04/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Louis-Claude Daquin,  John Bull,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Jean-François Dandrieu  ... 
    Performer:  Ton Koopman
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  • 56.
    Organ Works - Buxtehude, Bach, Et Al / Brad Hughley
    Organ Works - Buxtehude, Bach, Et Al / Brad Hughley
    Label: Raven Recordings   Catalog: 930 Release Date: 08/21/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Dietrich Buxtehude,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Claude-Béninge Balbastre,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck  ... 
    Performer:  Bradley Hughley
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  • 57.
    Gaudete / Almeda Berkey, Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum
    Gaudete / Almeda Berkey, Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum
    Label: Soli Dei Gloria   Catalog: 5637465189 Release Date: 07/24/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jackson Berkey,  Anders Öhrwall,  Egil Hovland,  Tomás Luis de Victoria  ... 
    Performer:  Paul Tranisi,  Willis Ann Ross,  Cynthia Meyers,  Bob Jenkins  ... 
    Conductor:  Almeda Berkey
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum
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  • 58.
    Sweelinck, Buxtehude, Bach At St Laurens Church Alkmaar
    Sweelinck, Buxtehude, Bach At St Laurens Church Alkmaar
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 93413 Release Date: 06/26/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Dietrich Buxtehude
    Performer:  Piet Kee
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  • 59.
    Harpsichord Recital / Bob Van Asperen
    Harpsichord Recital / Bob Van Asperen
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 54319 Release Date: 04/29/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Girolamo Frescobaldi,  Georg Muffat,  John Bull,  Bernardo Storace  ... 
    Performer:  Bob van Asperen
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  • 60.
    A Bridge To Bach - Gibbons, Bach, Et Al / Andrew Rangell
    A Bridge To Bach - Gibbons, Bach, Et Al / Andrew Rangell
    Label: Bridge   Catalog: 9216 Release Date: 02/13/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Orlando Gibbons,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  William Tisdale,  Thomas Tomkins  ... 
    Performer:  Andrew Rangell
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  • 61.
    Ballo Del Granduca - Sweelinck / Serge Schoonbroodt
    Ballo Del Granduca - Sweelinck / Serge Schoonbroodt
    Label: Aeolus   Catalog: 10201 Release Date: 11/21/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Performer:  Serge Schoonbroodt
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  • 62.
    Psalms From Geneva - Sweelinck: Organ Music / Masaaki Suzuki
    Psalms From Geneva - Sweelinck: Organ Music / Masaaki Suzuki
    Label: Bis   Catalog: 1614 Release Date: 10/31/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Performer:  Masaaki Suzuki
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  • 63.
    Treasury Of A Saint / Caecilia-concert
    Treasury Of A Saint / Caecilia-concert
    Label: Challenge   Catalog: 72161 Release Date: 09/12/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Philipp F. Buchner,  Giovanni Fontana,  Philipp Friedrich Böddecker  ... 
    Performer:  Kathryn Cok,  Fiona Russell,  Adam Woolf,  Wouter Verschuren
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Caecilia-Concert
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  • 64.
    Instruments From The Russell Collection Vol 1 / John Kitchen
    Instruments From The Russell Collection Vol 1 / John Kitchen
    Label: Delphian   Catalog: 34001 Release Date: 07/25/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Stanley,  Muzio Clementi,  George Frideric Handel,  Armand-Louis Couperin  ... 
    Performer:  John Kitchen
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  • 65.
    War & Peace - Philips, Gibbons, Byrd, Etc / Bob Van Asperen
    War & Peace - Philips, Gibbons, Byrd, Etc / Bob Van Asperen
    Label: Aeolus   Catalog: 10014 Release Date: 07/18/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Jacob Froberger,  Anonymous,  Louis Couperin,  Claude Le Jeune  ... 
    Performer:  Bob van Asperen
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  • 66.
    Music Of The Dutch Golden Era / Camerata Trajectina
    Music Of The Dutch Golden Era / Camerata Trajectina
    Label: Globe   Catalog: 6013 Release Date: 05/09/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anonymous,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Jan Jacob Van Eyck,  Constantijn Huygens  ... 
    Conductor:  Camerata Trajectina
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Camerata Trajectina
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  • 67.
    Dresden Kreuzchoir - Legendary Recordings
    Dresden Kreuzchoir - Legendary Recordings
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 8392 Release Date: 03/28/2006   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Gottfried August Homilius,  Rudolf Mauersberger,  Johann Hermann Schein,  Max Reger  ... 
    Performer:  Georg Fleischer,  Reinhold Krause,  Eberhard Uhlig,  Heinz Müller  ... 
    Conductor:  Rudolf Mauersberger,  Gothart Stier,  Martin Flämig
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Dresden Kreuz Choir,  Capella Fidicinia,  Blasende Music Leipzig  ... 
    CD: $64.99
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  • 68.
    Organ In The Hills - Bach, Sweelinck, Etc / Henry Wallace
    Organ In The Hills - Bach, Sweelinck, Etc / Henry Wallace
    Label: Diversions   Catalog: 24101 Release Date: 02/28/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Théodore Dubois,  Johann Jacob Froberger,  Johann Caspar Fischer,  Johann Sebastian Bach  ... 
    Performer:  Henry Wallace
    CD: $14.99
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  • 69.
    Candlelight Carols
    Candlelight Carols
    Label: Bis   Catalog: 5028 Release Date: 12/06/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Benny Andersson,  Adolphe Adam,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Herbert Howells  ... 
    Conductor:  Cecilia Rydinger Alin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Allmänna Sången Choir
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  • 70.
    Jewels Of The Renaissance Era
    Jewels Of The Renaissance Era
    Label: Analekta   Catalog: 29781 Release Date: 11/15/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anonymous,  Anthony Holborne,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Clément Janequin  ... 
    Performer:  Antoine Bouchard,  Shannon Mercer,  Luc Beauséjour,  Matthew White  ... 
    Conductor:  James Tinsley,  Gilbert Patenaude,  Christopher Jackson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Strada,  Niagara Brass Ensemble,  Les Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal  ... 
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  • 71.
    Sacred Bridges / The King's Singers, Sarband
    Sacred Bridges / The King's Singers, Sarband
    Label: World Village   Catalog: 468052 Release Date: 10/11/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Salomone Rossi,  Claude Goudimel,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Sarband  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers,  Sarband
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  • 72.
    All Is Bright / Llewellyn, Handel And Haydn Society
    All Is Bright / Llewellyn, Handel And Haydn Society
    Label: Avie   Catalog: 2078 Release Date: 09/27/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  William Mathias,  Sir William Walton,  Michael Praetorius,  Tom Vignieri  ... 
    Performer:  John Finney,  Christopheren Nomura,  Susan Consoli,  Janice Giampa  ... 
    Conductor:  Grant Llewellyn
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Handel and Haydn Society,  Handel and Haydn Society Chorus,  Trinity Handbell Ensemble
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  • 73.
    Die Regensburger Domspatzen Singen Zur Weihnachtszeit
    Die Regensburger Domspatzen Singen Zur Weihnachtszeit
    Label: Bayer Records   Catalog: 100352 Release Date: 09/27/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Michael Praetorius,  Samuel Scheidt,  Giovanni Palestrina,  Johannes Eccard  ... 
    Conductor:  Theobald Schrems
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Regensburg Cathedral Choir
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  • 74.
    Ronsard Et Les Néerlandais / Egidius Kwartet
    Ronsard Et Les Néerlandais / Egidius Kwartet
    Label: Etcetera Records   Catalog: 1254 Release Date: 06/21/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Marc-Antoine de Muret,  Orlando de Lassus,  Jacques Arcadelt,  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Egidius Quartet
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  • 75.
    The Orpheus Of Amsterdam - Sweelinck, Et Al / Gail Archer
    The Orpheus Of Amsterdam - Sweelinck, Et Al / Gail Archer
    Label: Cala Records   Catalog: 88043 Release Date: 05/05/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck,  Samuel Scheidt,  Heinrich Scheidemann
    Performer:  Gail Archer
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