A Kempis, Nicolaus

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A Kempis, Nicolaus

A Kempis, Nicolaus, Flemish organist and composer; b. c. 1600; d. Brussels (buried), Aug. 11, 1676. He became organist at Ste. Gudule in Brussels in 1626, which position he formally assumed in 1627. He composed 4 vols, of Symphoniae that rank among the earliest sonatas in the Low Countries. His son Thomas (actually, Petrus) a Kempis (b. Brussels [baptized], April 2, 1628; d. Sept. 21, 1688), was also an organist and composer who joined the Premonstratensian order. Another son, Joannes Florentis a Kempis (b. Brussels [baptized], Aug. 1, 1635; d. after 1711), likewise was an organist and composer. After serving as organist at the Eglise de la Chapelle in Brussels from 1657, he succeeded his father at Ste. Gudule about 1671.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire