Orgelhymne: 'Wilt heden du treden voor God den Herre' (We gather together)

Jan Zwart (Zaandam, August 20, 1877 - there, July 13, 1937) was a Dutch organist and a pupil of H. van Eyk.

Having first been organist of the Dutch Reformed Church in Rotterdam and Capelle aan den IJssel, he was appointed to the same position in 1898 at the Reformed Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amsterdam. Here he began his weekly orgelbespelingen, he continued faithfully until his death.

Jan Zwart was also the first Dutch organist who played on the radio. Through his regular radio broadcasts he has managed to captivate a large audience and managed to arouse interest in the organ. He was also a skilled educator and organ historian. One of his most famous pupils was Feike Asma.

He wrote many articles on the Old Dutch organ history, and reawakened an interest in the organ music of Sweelinck. Jan Zwart himself also composed organ music. In 1917 he began the publication of "Dutch Organ Music". He was also the initiator of the Dutch Organ Days.

Some say that after his death, a true "cult" arose around the person and his music, compared by some to the "Wagner Worship" at the end of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century.

The "Orgelhymne: 'Wilt heden du treden voor God den Herre'" is the first of three arrangements of "3 Old Dutch Folksongs". The tune will be famous to Americans as well, since no Thanksgiving could be complete without the singing of "We gather together."

It is a massive "arrangement" of the hymn, using huge chords and double pedal throughout. It is highly chromatic, and builds to a tremendous climax.

The score is attached, as well as a photo of Jan Zwart.