Psalm 1

Listening to uploads of Dutch organists on Contrebombarde, especially those of psalm preludes, the impression could arise, that Dutch organ playing was and is very much influenced by the romantic style of organists like Jan Zwart and Feike Asma, van Tilburg etc.

They certainly still have a big influence , especially among amateur-organists and the more conservative Dutch Christian population. There even are contemporary composers writing in that romantic idiom.

In professional circles however there has been a different development. Those who studied the organ at the Dutch conservatoria, populated by the best Dutch organ teachers, mostly developed a different kind of style, more along the lines of the contemporary German composers like Micheelsen, Distler and Pepping and French composers Tournemire, Langlais and Durufle.

In the seventies bundles were published with preludes, composed by leading contemporary Dutch composers. I intend to do a small series on preludes and harmonizations of the psalms.

Psalm 1: Prelude and 2 harmonizations by:
Leen ‘t Hart (1920-1992) was a leading Dutch organist and Carilloneur. He founded the Dutch academy for Carillon and wrote many compositions for organ and Carillon. He is mainly famous as a carilloneur and teacher.
He was the Carilloneur on one of Holland’s most important Carillons: of the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Delft, doing weekly recitals and playing on various important occasions. He gave masterclasses all over the world.

He wrote in a somewhat German contemporary style; which goes for his prelude and the following two harmonizations.