Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: The orpheus of Amsterdam, Part 1 – A church organist

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621) (© Rijksmuseum, public domain)

Part One: A Church Organist

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck was one of the most important composers of his time. Born in 1562, he became resident organist at Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk, or Old Church, and eventually achieved international fame, his influence reaching far beyond at his death in 1621. This two-part programme explores the Dutch composer’s life and work, with music performed on authentic instruments of the period from a CD series produced by Radio Netherlands’ Music Department.

Producer: David Swatling

Broadcast: March 31, 2002