On Friday 4 April, de Doelen and publisher De Arbeiderspers are organising a special evening in honour of composer Willem Pijper (1894 – 1947). During this event, the biography ‘Een lied dat niet sterven zal’ by music historian Arthur van Dijk will be presented and the unveiling of the artwork Homage to Willem Pijper, created by renowned German sculptor Stephan Balkenhol, will take place.
Willem Pijper is considered one of the most influential composers in Dutch music history. The programme takes visitors into his life and work with musical performances, quotes from the biography and contributions by author Arthur van Dijk, Peter Nijssen (Arbeiderspers), composer Anne-Maartje Lemereis and pianist Ralph van Raat, among others.
After the substantive programme, Homage to Willem Pijper will be unveiled. This monumental artwork by Stephan Balkenhol is a lasting reminder of Pijper’s legacy and a valuable addition to de Doelen’s art collection. The unveiling also marks the conclusion of a series of events in Rotterdam around Willem Pijper.
In this biography, Arthur van Dijk dives deep into the life of Willem Pijper. Whereas he was once seen as an untouchable figure with international fame, after 1966 he was suddenly considered an overrated composer. That image has since been adjusted and this biography offers a new, nuanced insight into his life and work. The book highlights not only his musical influence, but also his role as a literator and his intriguing personality.
Composers in the crosshairs of our attention