Jan van Dijk, the Dutch composer, conductor, pianist and musicologist,
has passed away.  He was born on June 4, 1918, in Oostzaan and died on
November 25, 2016, in Zwijndrecht.

He studied composition, harmony, counterpoint, analysis and the theory
of music at the conservatories of Rotterdam, Tilburg, The Hague and
Amsterdam.  He was a member of the jury at the conservatories of Gent
and Brussels in Belgium.  He conducted the symphony orchestra of Gouda,
was a musical contributor of newspapers, journals and publications.
He was very active in the field of musical education and so on.

Van Dijk had studied piano at the conservatory of Rotterdam with Jaap
Callenbach (*1904) and composition with the conductor and composer
Willem Pijper (*1904, +1947).  He created 1263 musical pieces, including
18 symphonies, 12 string quartets, 7 piano sonatas, works for choir and
music for 150 psalms and so on.

Famous is his concerto for player piano (pianola) and orchestra.  He
punched all holes for the roll together with Lucius Voorhorst, who
performed the first public concerto on April 8, 1978, conducted by
Willem Frederik Bon.  The Dutch Pianola Society (Nederlandse Pianola
Vereniging) was already founded on June 6, 1975.  Van Dijk's son,
IJsbrand, is still living.

Hendrik H. Strengers
Delft, Netherlands
hekaton@hetnet.nl.geentroep[delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ See also http://www.janvandijk.net/index.asp?MenuID=1&Language=2 
 [ & http://www.brabantcultureel.nl/2016/02/22/jan-van-dijk-ziet-muziek-nog-altijd-als-een-klanksprookje/ 
 [ -- Robbie