According to conductor and friend Ed Spanjaard, Dutch composer and pianist Hans Henkemans holds his own among pianists who are ten times more famous. Despite his talent, his music was nearly forgotten until recently. However, thanks to a revival led by Spanjaard, violinist Liza Ferschtman, brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen, and pianist Mattias Spee, who recorded an album of his music, Henkemans is receiving the recognition he deserves.
Hans Henkemans was a renowned Dutch composer and pianist, born on February 23, 1913. He passed away on January 29, 1995. Even as a young boy, he displayed an exceptional talent for playing the piano and began taking lessons at an early age. However, his father did not support his musical aspirations and urged him to pursue a “real” profession like medicine. Despite this, Hans continued studying piano and composition, determined to follow his passion for music.
Henkemans performed nearly 60 times at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and was a sought-after guest at various international festivals. His interpretation of Debussy’s music was exceptional and displayed a remarkable range of sounds, according to Spanjaard.
However, in the early 1960s, Henkemans’ career took a significant hit when his musical ideas clashed with the experimental sounds of the avant-garde movement. When he suggested the term ‘sonics’ to describe these compositions in an opinion piece, it did not sit well with the emerging generation of composers and musicians. The sonics controversy haunted his career in the following years.
Due to health reasons, Henkemans retired from playing the piano in the late 1960s. Nonetheless, he continued to compose music for several more years. Afterward, he became a psychiatrist until his retirement.
It’s been over two decades since Henkemans passed away, but his music is now primed for rediscovery. A documentary has been produced to introduce the general public to him and his work.
Furthermore, a fresh generation of musicians has taken to performing his compositions. Pianist Mattias Spee recently shared his thoughts on Henkemans’ musical style, noting, “His music encompasses various influences. I can detect elements of late romanticism, impressionism, and contemporary composers of his era, like Prokofiev and Poulenc. In Henkemans’ hands, it takes on a distinct Dutch flavor but can be quite sentimental at times.”
Spee performed a concert to launch his own CD of Henkemans’ music, which was recorded by The Evening Concert for broadcast on June 14th.
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