Ick wil mij gaen vertroosten

Variations on an old Dutch song by Jacob Bijster. Bijster was born in 1902 in Haarlem and he studied organ at the Amsterdam Conservatory. In 1929 he was appointed as an organ teacher at the same institute and in '42 he became the head teacher of the organ class. Bijster was the organist of the Baptist church in Haarlem from 1922 untill he passed away in 1958.
Bijster's musical language was strongly influenced by the French composers; therefore (especially in the 1960s) his music did not get the appreciation it deserved in The Netherlands.
Jacob Bijster wrote 31 pieces for organ, of which 20 have been published.

The song "Ick wil mij gaen vertroosten in Jesu lijden groot" was published in 1539. Translated into English it means appr. "Jesus' suffering is my comfort".