Zeven was voldoende

In 2013 a new hymnal was introduced for use in the PKN (Protestant Churches) of the Netherlands.

Many new hymns were added to the earlier edition of 1973, about three hundred and many other did not make the cut and were removed for various reasons. Texts were renewed and new melodies chosen from different countries and Dutch poets and composers.

So in addition to my small series of preludes to the Psalms I intend to do a similar series but this time on hymns and preludes. The idea is the same: present contemporary preludes to hymns, new or other, by Dutch composers. As the hymn melodies will not always be known to the audience on the concert hall the order is now reversed: the hymn is played once or twice and then the prelude written to it, to give listeners unfamiliar with the hymn a chance to get aquinted with it first.

Zeven was voldoende.
Melody: Frits Meertens Tekst: Willem Barnard
Prelude by Folkert Grondsma (1944-2000)

The hymn is about the miracle of bread and fish to feed the five thousand.

Folkert Grondsma studied at the conservatories of The Hague and Groningen.
In 1975 he got the Prix d’Excellence, the highest reward. He also studied improvisation with Cor Kee.

On a scholarship of the French government he studied for one year with Jean Langlais in Paris and later with Olivier Messiaen and Gaston Litaize.

He was professor at the conservatorium in Rotterdam. As organist he played in the Paulskerk te Den Haag (now closed // the organ bought by a church in Gelderland) and the Hartebrugkerk te Leiden.