Marinus Adrianus (Marius) Monnikendam (28 May 189622 May 1977) was a Dutch composer, organist, and music critic. He studied at the

Amsterdam Conservatory The Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA) is a Dutch conservatoire of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdam University of the Arts, the city's vocational university of arts. The Conservatorium van Amsterdam ...

. In 1925 Monnikendam went to Paris and attended Vincent d’Indy's Schola Cantorum. During this time, he published his first works for piano and cello. He then became a lecturer at the

Rotterdam Conservatory Codarts University for the Arts () is a Dutch vocational university in Rotterdam that teaches music, dance and circus. It was established in its present location in 2000. History Codarts can trace its origins to the Rotterdams Conservatorium voo ...

and the Amsterdam Music Lyceum. Monnikendam composed mostly religious and secular works. He also published books on

César Franck César Auguste Jean Guillaume Hubert Franck (; 10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher born in present-day Belgium. He was born in Liège (which at the time of h ...

and

Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ( – 6 April 1971) was a Russian composer and conductor with French citizenship (from 1934) and American citizenship (from 1945). He is widely considered one of the most important and influential 20th-century c ...

. His ''Lamentations of Jeremiah'' for chorus and orchestra, written in 1956 was broadcast by Radio Holland during the funeral services for both former Queen Wilhelmine (1962) and President

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected p ...

(1963). His most popular work is the ''Toccata'' for Organ (1936). His son was film director Vincent Monnikendam.

Life

He was the son of diamond worker Juda Monnikendam and Catharina Cornelia Bierboom. As a child he lived opposite a church with a Cavaillé-Coll organ, which he often visited and which had a lasting influence on his future career as an organ composer. At the age of 11 he went to the boarding school and gymnasium of the Fathers of Monfort at

Schimmert Schimmert (; ) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Beekdaelen. History The village was first mentioned in the mid-11th century as "de Scinmottera". The etymology is unclear. Schimmert is a villa ...

, where there was only a

pump organ The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reed aerophone, free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ ...

, on which a lot of

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety of instruments and forms, including the or ...

was played, which was a new revelation for him.Paap, Wouter. (1976). p. 34-36. ''The Composer Marius Monnikendam''. J.H.Gottmer. Haarlem. Monnikendam studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory with Sem Dresden and Jean-Baptiste de Pauw. In 1925, thanks to a scholarship from the state, he was able to study composition at the Schola Cantorum de Paris with

Vincent d'Indy Paul Marie Théodore Vincent d'Indy (; 27 March 18512 December 1931) was a French composer and teacher. His influence as a teacher, in particular, was considerable. He was a co-founder of the Schola Cantorum de Paris and also taught at the Pa ...

and

Louis Aubert Louis François Marie Aubert (19 February 1877 – 9 January 1968) was a French composer. Biography Born in Paramé, Ille-et-Vilaine, Louis Aubert was a child prodigy. His parents, recognizing their son's musical talent, sent him to Paris to re ...

. He then became a teacher at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Amsterdam Music Lyceum. In 1932 he switched to the Rotterdam Catholic daily newspaper "De Maasbode", of which he was music editor until the early 1960s, even after the merger with "De Tijd". He was also active as a composer of religious and profane works. Throughout his life Marius Monnikendam wrote many articles and books on music, including biographies of

and

. In 1933 he married Anna Maria Anthonia van Gendt. Marius Monnikendam received the Gilded Medal of the French

Société Académique Arts-Sciences-Lettres Groupe Lactalis S.A. (doing business as Lactalis) is a French multinational dairy products corporation, owned by the Besnier family and based in Laval, Mayenne, France. The company's former name was Besnier S.A. Lactalis is the largest dairy pr ...

, was Officier d'Académie in the French

Ordre des Palmes académiques A suite, in Western classical music, is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral/concert band pieces. It originated in the late 14th century as a pairing of dance tunes; and grew in scope so that by the early 17th century it comprised up to ...

, Knight in the

Order of St. Gregory the Great The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great (; ) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope. The order is one of the five Papal order of knighthood, orders of knighthood of th ...

and Knight in the

Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau () is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has performed acts of special merits for ...

. He died during the return journey from

Bonn Bonn () is a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the banks of the Rhine. With a population exceeding 300,000, it lies about south-southeast of Cologne, in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr region. This ...

, where he held a concert with Haga Cantare to

The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...

. During the transfer to

Heerlen railway station Heerlen is a railway station located in Heerlen, Netherlands. History The station was opened on 1 May 1896 and is located on the Sittard–Herzogenrath railway and the . The station was an important mining station, until the mines closed down. A ...

, he collapsed as a result of a heart attack and died on the platform.

Composer

As a composer Marius Monnikendam never conformed to any musical trend in particular. Most of his works were commissioned. He felt most at home when composing special commissions. This is applicable to his work for the concert podium as much as to his Lay-music of the Thirties ( canons,

Christmas carol A Christmas carol is a Carol (music), carol on the theme of Christmas, traditionally sung at Christmas itself or during the surrounding Christmas and holiday season. The term noel has sometimes been used, especially for carols of French or ...

s and his stage music, e.g.

Vondel Joost van den Vondel (; 17 November 1587 – 5 February 1679) was a Dutch playwright, poet, literary translator and writer. He is generally regarded as the greatest writer in the Dutch-language literature, Dutch language as well as an important f ...

). The practicability of his choir works is of utmost importance for amateurs. In his choice of text he has a strong preference for religion and

liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...

. At the same time he feels very much attracted to the

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

. During his study in Paris he became deeply interested in César Franck. He also admired

Milhaud Darius Milhaud (, ; 4 September 1892 – 22 June 1974) was a French composer, conductor, and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as ''The Group of Six''—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions ...

and Honegger, and as far as organ music is concerned,

Charles Tournemire Charles Arnould Tournemire (22 January 1870 – 3 or 4 November 1939) was a French composer and organist, notable partly for his improvisations, which were often rooted in the music of Gregorian chant. His compositions include eight symphon ...

as well.

A Composer of Church Music

For a Convention of church music in

Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

in 1928 he sent in a ''Missa Nova'', which received great acclaim because of its advanced style, however the Ecclesiastical Authorities did not give their seal of approval. Only after the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Monnikendam did write church music again: a ''Missa Festiva'' and in 1961 a ''Missa Solemnis''. Due to the introduction of Dutch language into liturgy, Monnikendam wrote a ''Whitsun Mass'' in 1966. He composed his ''Via Sacra'' in 1969 for

boys' choir A boys' choir is a one made up of boys who have yet to begin (or are just in the early stages of) puberty and so retain their high-pitched childhood voice. Members are known as trebles ("boy sopranos") or meanes ("boy altos"), depending on their ...

, mixed

choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

declamation Declamation (from the Latin: ''declamatio'') is an artistic form of public speaking. It is a dramatic oration designed to express through articulation, emphasis and gesture the full sense of the text being conveyed. History In Ancient Rome, decl ...

, organ, percussion and light images, projected on a large film screen, with

expressionistic Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radi ...

passion Passion, the Passion or the Passions may refer to: Emotion * Passion (emotion), a very strong feeling about a person or thing * Passions (philosophy), emotional states as used in philosophical discussions * Stoic passions, various forms of emotio ...

drawings by Aad de Haas. The ''Via Sacra'' is meant to be a quaresimal sermon, not for liturgical use, but for the

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

and

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

church as well. The first performance was in 1970 and after that many times in

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

(

, Amsterdam,

Oldenzaal Oldenzaal (; Tweants: ''Oldnzel'') is a municipality and a city in the eastern province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. It is part of the region of Twente and is close to the German border. It received city rights in 1249. Historically, the ...

) en abroad (

Brussels Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States * Madison (footballer), Brazilian footballer Places in the United States Populated places * Madi ...

, New York City,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Composer for Organ

A great deal of Monnikendam's work is taken up by organ compositions. His first ''Toccata'' (1936) is dedicated to maestro Charles Tournemire. In 1938 he wrote his first concert for organ in a modern baroque style and was performed in Amsterdam. In his ''Concerto for Organ and Brass Quartet'' (1956), an eighteenth century competitive style can be recognized. His sparkling virtuoso ''Third Concert for Organ'' (1968) with brass and percussion was very well received in the US. American editors started to become interested in Monnikendam (''Inventions for Organ'', 1961 and 1965).

Composer for Orchestra

Monnikendam did not write

Symphonies A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning c ...

but rather "Symphonic Movements", where a close musical structure is developed from a basic thought in a dynamic-motor fashion (compare Honegger's ''

Pacific 231 ''Pacific 231'' is an orchestral work by Arthur Honegger, written in 1923. It is one of his most frequently performed works, and it inspired two film adaptations. Description The piece is commonly interpreted as depicting a steam locomotive in ac ...

''). His first work in this genre was ''Arbeid'' (Labour, 1931), followed by ''Mouvement Symphonique''. An old Dutch

folksong Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has bee ...

‘Merck toch hoe Sterck’ was transformed twice by Monnikendam: first in a ''Sinfonia'' (1943) and secondly as ''Symphonic Variations'' (1954). The ''Concerto for Trumpet, Horn and Orchestra'' could be considered as a pendant of his concerto’s for organ, where he lays a bridge across the eighteenth and twentieth century.

Composer for Choirs

Monnikendam attempted to reach a big audience by choosing texts of an evocative character for his choir works. As an example of this he composed three different versions of the "Te Deum Laudamus". Compared with his first ''Te Deum'', his second one shows a marked austerity and commitment. His third ''Te Deum'' (1961), written for male choir and orchestra, is strongly influenced by Stravinsky and

Orff Carl Heinrich Maria Orff (; 10 July 1895 – 29 March 1982) was a German composer and music educator, who composed the cantata ''Carmina Burana'' (1937). The concepts of his Schulwerk were influential for children's music education. Life Earl ...

. In his seven ''Poet Psalms'' (1934) Monnikendam linked various texts into one vocal-symphony whole. Also in the L''amentations of Jeremiah'' (1962), his text is arranged to a symphonic structure. His early ''Symphonia Sacra'' (1947) was based on Gregorian elements. His ''Magnificat'' was composed in two different versions. Monnikendam composed only a few

secular Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin , or or ), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. The origins of secularity can be traced to the Bible itself. The concept was fleshed out through Christian hi ...

choir works: ''Ballade des Pendus'', T''estament de l’ivrogne'' (both for male choir) and ''Madrigalesca'' for female choir and piano.

Composer for Oratorio

For the occasion of the commemoration of

Jan van Riebeeck Johan Anthoniszoon "Jan" van Riebeeck (21 April 1619 – 18 January 1677) was a Dutch navigator, ambassador and colonial administrator of the Dutch East India Company. Life Early life Jan van Riebeeck was born in Culemborg on 21 April ...

, founder of the South African Colony, Monnikendam wrote an

oratorio An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble. Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguisha ...

for choir, children's choir, soloists and orchestra in 1952. From a text of the contemporary French poet

Robert Morel Robert Morel (1653 – 19 August 1731) was a French Order of Saint Benedict, Benedictine monk. Morel was born in 1653 in La Chaise-Dieu, La Chaise Dieu, Auvergne. He took holy orders at the abbey of Saint Faron de Meaux in 1671; was sent to the ...

, Monnikendam composed the tripartite oratorio: ''Noé, ou la destruction du premier monde'' (1955).

Last commissions

Till the end of his life, Monnikendam possesses an extremely lively mind and remained very active on all fronts. His creative powers remain undiminished. His final compositions were three commissioned works. The old Dutch

mystery play Mystery plays and miracle plays (they are distinguished as two different forms although the terms are often used interchangeably) are among the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. Medieval mystery plays focused on the represe ...

"Everyman" (with a new modern text by Jan Engelman and an English translation by A. Barnouw) was written in two versions, one for male choir and one for mixed choir. Monnikendam received a second commission by the Dutch Heart Foundation. Based on the human heartbeat, Monnikendam wrote an instrumental work ''Heart-Rhythm'' (1975) in which a link is made with space travel. On the occasion of the reopening as a concert hall of the restored New Church of The Hague (end of 1976) Monnikendam composed a ''Gloria'' for mixed choir, orchestra, organ and percussion. The work was commissioned by the Johann Wagenaar Foundation.

Works (selection)

The following list contains a selection of Monnikendam's compositions of which most of the manuscripts are in the Music Library of the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague, the Music Library of the Dutch Radio and Donemus (74 compositions;

Orchestral works

* Symfonic Movement ''Arbeid'' (1931) * ''Concerto for organ and strings'' (1938) * ''Sinfonia super "Merck toch hoe sterck"'', piano and chamber orchestra (1943) * ''Mouvement symphonique'' (1950) * ''Concerto for Trumpet and Horn'' (1952) * ''Variations symphoniques'' (1954) * ''Concerto for two Trumpets, two Trombones and Organ'' (1956) * ''Overture, for Grand Organ and Orchestra'' (1960) * ''Vision'', for chamber orchestra (1963) * ''Suite'', for orchestra (1963) * ''Variations symphoniques super "Merck toch hoe sterck"'', for orchestra (1963) * ''Concerto for piano and orchestra'' (1974) * ''Concerto for organ and chamber orchestra'' (1977)

Oratorio

* ''Noé ou La destruction du premier monde'', for 2 narrators, soprano, alto, baritone, mixed koor, boys choir (SA) and orchestra (1955) – text:

Works for choir

* ''Magnificat'', for male choir (TTBB) and organ (1923) * ''Missa Nova,'' for three-part mixed choir (STB) and organ (1928) * ''Laudate Dominum'', for two-part male choir and organ (1934) * ''Boetpsalmen'' (Penance Psalms) (1938) * ''Ave Maria'', for five-part mixed choir (SATBrB) and organ (1943) * ''Missa parvulorum'', a duabus choris organo comitante (1944) * ''Te Deum'', for mixed choir and orchestra (1945) * ''Sinfonia Sacra'' (1947–52) * ''Ballade des Pendus'' (1949) * ''Litaniae Lauretaniae'', for four-part male choir and organ (1951) * ''Missa parvulorum a duabus choris organo comitante'' (1951) * ''Missa festiva'', for mixed choir, organ, trumpet and trombone ad libitum (1954) * ''Magnificat'', for male choir (TTBB), soprano (solo) and instruments (1956) – also available in a version for mixed choir, soprano and two piano's * ''Klaagzangen van Jeremia'' (Lamentations of Jeremiah), for narrator, alto, mixed choir and piano (1956) * ''Veni creator'', for male choir, boys' choir (ad libitum) and organ, with two trumpets and two trombones ad libitum (1957) * ''Veni, Sancte Spiritus'', for male choir (TTBB) and organ (1958) * ''Symbolum'' – a recitative cred', for mixed choir, organ and two trumpets and two trombones ad libitum (1961) * ''Psalm 50'' "Have mercy on me, O, God", for three equal voices with organ (1963) * ''Via Sacra,'' for boys' choir, mixed choir (SAATBB), narrator, percussion and organ (1969) * ''Trois psaumes'' (Psalms 25, 23 and 148) ''pour le temps present'', for soprano, alto, tenor, bas, mixed choir and orchestra (1971) * ''Christmas cycle,'' six Christmas carols for mixed choir and organ (1973) * ''Alleluia!'', for mixed choir and organ (1975) * ''Elckerlyc'', for male choir (TTBB), boys' choir and orchestra (or: mixed choir (SATB), boys' choir and orchestra) (1975) – words: Jan Engelman * ''Heart-Rhythm'', for male choir (TTBB), narrator (if possible two), 3 percussionists, organ and double-bass (1975) – composed for the European Congress of Cardiologists in 1976 * ''Gloria'', for mixed choir, organ and orchestra (1976) * ''Hymn for St. Chrystophore'', for mixed choir and orchestra – words: Anton v. Duinkerken * ''O, Roma'', choir in unison and organ

Chamber music

* ''Sonate'', for cello and piano (1925) * ''Intrada and sortie'' – processional and recessional, for organ and 1 or 2 trumpets and 1 or 2 trombones (1959) * ''Suite in

C-major C major is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and its parallel minor i ...

'', for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and harp (1960) * ''Toccata-batalla'', for 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, timpani and organ (or organ solo) (1972)

Works for organ

* ''Toccata'' (1936) – dedicated to

* ''Tema con variazione per la notte di natale'' (1951) – dedicated to

Flor Peeters Franciscus Florentinus Peeters, Baron Peeters (4 July 1903 – 4 July 1986) was a Belgian composer, organist and academic teacher. He was director of the Conservatorium in Antwerp, Belgium, and organist at Mechelen Cathedral from 1923 to his dea ...

* ''Choral'' (1951) * ''Toccata'' (1957) * ''10 Inventiones'' (1959) * ''Marcia funebre'' (1959) * ''Rondeña'', for organ pedal and timpani (1960) * ''Sonata da chiesa'' (1961) * ''Cortège'' (1963) * ''Toccata II'' (1970) – dedicated to

* ''Two themes with variations'', variations on "

Frère Jacques "Frère Jacques" (, ), also known in English as "Brother John", is a nursery rhyme of French origin. The rhyme is traditionally sung in a round. The song is about a friar who has overslept and is urged to wake up and sound the bell for the mat ...

" and "Veni Creator Spiritus" (1971) * ''Prelude "The bells"'' (1972) * ''Fugue sur les petits et les grands jeux'' (1974) * ''Postludium'' (super FeikE (A)Asma) (1974) – dedicated to Feike Asma * ''Invocatio'' (1975) * ''Voluntary'' (1975) * ''Toccate concertante'' (1976) * ''Toccate pentecosta'' – "Veni sancte spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium" (1977) * ''12 Inventions'' * ''Choral''

Works for piano

* Six inventions à deux voix (1928) * Le carillon de cithère, from the movie: «Le mirioir parlant» (1938) * Sonate biblique pour le fête de Noël, for piano four hands * Sonatine (1968)

Works for
carillon A carillon ( , ) is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a musical keyboard, keyboard and consists of at least 23 bells. The bells are Bellfounding, cast in Bell metal, bronze, hung in fixed suspension, and Musical tuning, tu ...

* ''Theme with variations on the heart beat'' (1976) * ''Fantasy on "O heer, die daer des Hemels tente spreyt – Valerius' gedenkclanck''

Publications

* ''César Franck'', Amsterdam : Uitgeversmaatschappij Holland, 1949. 204 p. * ''Vijftig meesterwerken der muziek vol. 1'', Den Haag : Dieben, 1953. 157 p. * ''Vijftig meesterwerken der muziek vol. 2'', Den Haag : Dieben, 1960. 132 p. * ''Vijftig meesterwerken der muziek vol. 3'', Den Haag : Dieben, 196?. 120 p. * ''Igor Strawinsky'', biografie, Haarlem: J.H. Gottmer, 1966. 278 p. * ''Nederlandse componisten van heden en verleden''(Dutch composers in the past and today), Amsterdam: A.J.G. Strengholt, 1968, 280 p.

References

Sources

*Paap, Wouter. (1976). p. 34-36. ''The Composer Marius Monnikendam''. J.H.Gottmer. Haarlem. *Paap, Wouter., Zijlstra, Miep; Robijns, J., Zijlstra, Miep., eds. (1979). ''Algemene Muziek Encyclopedie'', (deel 6). p. 363-364. Unieboek. Bussum.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Monnikendam, Marius 1896 births 1977 deaths Composers for carillon Dutch composers Art competitors at the 1936 Summer Olympics Musicians from Haarlem Codarts University for the Arts alumni