Monnikendam, Marius

Monnikendam, Marius, Dutch music critic, teacher, and composer; b. Haarlem, May 28, 1896; d. Heerlen, May 22, 1977. He studied composition with Dresden, and organ and piano with de Pauw at the Amsterdam Cons. In 1925 he went to Paris, where he took courses with Aubert and dTndy at the Schola Cantorum. Returning to the Netherlands, he taught composition at the Rotterdam Cons, and in Amsterdam; also served as music critic of the newspaper combine De Tijd and De Maasbode. He wrote a number of church works, in which he revived the most ancient form of plainchant, but injected asymmetric rhythms in a modern style; in his larger works, he employed the resources of advanced harmony, including polytonality. He publ, monographs on Franck (Amsterdam, 1949) and Stravinsky (Haarlem, 1951); also 50 Masterpieces of Music (The Hague, 1953) and Nederlandse Componisten van heden en verleden (Amsterdam, 1968).

Works

orch.:Arbeid (Labor), symphonic movement (1931); Sinfonia super “Merck toch hoe sterck” for Chamber Orch. (1944); Mouvement symphonique (1950); Concerto for Trumpet, Horn, and Orch. (1952); Variations symphoniques super “Merck toch hoe sterck” (1954); Concerto for Organ and Strings (1958); Ouverture for Organ and Orch. (1960); Vision for Chamber Orch. (1963); Concerto for Organ, Wind Instruments, Harp, Double Bass, and Percussion (1968); Piano Concertino (1974). chamber: Cello Sonata (1925); 2 toccatas for Organ (1931, 1970); Concerto for Organ, 2 Trumpets, and 2 Trombones (1956); 10 Inventions for Organ (1959); Suite for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Harp (1960); Piano Sonatina (1967); Suite biblique for Piano, 4-Hands (1967); The Bells, prelude for Organ (1971); Toccata batalla for Organ, 2 Trumpets, and 2 Trombones (1972); numerous small organ pieces. VOCAL: 2 Te Deums for Chorus and Orch. (1919, 1946); Missa Nova for 3 Voices and Organ (1928); 7 Boetpsalmen (7 Penitential Psalms) for Chorus and Orch. (1934); Noah, oratorio (1937); Samson, oratorio (1938); Solomon, oratorio (1939); Missa antiphonale (1939); Sinfonia sacra I for Men’s Chorus and Orch. (1947) and 17 (Domine salvum fac) for Chorus and Orch. (1952); Passion for Speaker, Chorus, and Orch. (1948); Van Riebeeck- Taferelen for 2 Speakers, Chorus, and Orch. (1952); Noe ou La Destruction du Premier Monde, oratorio (1955); Magnificat for Soprano, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. without Strings (1956; transcribed for Mixed Chorus and Full Orch., 1965); Missa festiva for Chorus and Orch. (1956); Lamentations of Jeremiah for Chorus and Orch. (1956); Hymne for Alto, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1957); Missa soleníssima for Chorus, Organ, and 7 Wind Instruments (1959); Missa pro defunctis for 3 Soloists, Organ, and Percussion (1961); Apocalypse for Chorus and Organ (1966); Madrigalesca for Chorus, 9 Winds, and Percussion (1966); De Kinderkruistocht (The Children’s Crusade) for Mixed or Women’s Chorus, 7 Woodwinds, and Percussion (1967); Via sacra (Way of the Cross) for Speaker, Chorus, Organ, Percussion, and Projection Slides (1969); 3 psaumes pour le temps present for Soloists, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (1971); Missa concertanta for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1971); Elckerlyc (Everyman),mystery play for Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1975; The Hague, May 28, 1976); Heart Rhythm for Speaker, Men’s Chorus, Organ, Double Bass, and Percussion (1975); Gloria for Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1976)

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire