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Composers persecuted in WWII

During the Second World War, many composers were persecuted by the Nazi’s, because they either had a Jewish background or refused to comply with Nazi rules. Their music was banned from all public performance. The Leo Smit Foundation, founded in 1996, is committed to regain this music.

In more than 200 concerts, we’ve brought to life music that was lost and forgotten. With this website, we share with musicians, programmers and music lovers worldwide what we’ve found, starting with music from composers who lived and worked in the Netherlands.

Here you can search for composers, works for various instrumentations or vocal repertoire. Find scores, look at manuscripts and listen to sound samples.

featured composer

Leo Kok (1893 - 1992)

The term ‘homo universalis’ or Renaissance Man originated as a description of individuals, that helped humanity escape the dark ages by virtue of their open minds and tenacious pursuit of new knowledge. Leo Kok was such a polymath in his own lifetime, the twentieth century; a gifted football player, a pianist of the highest level, a vocal coach, a composer. He also had a great interest in literature and politics. As an anti-fascist activist he joined the resistance … more

new additions

October 2, 2026

Daniël Belinfante

Reflex
January 1943 / 13 March 1943
September 18, 2026

Hans Franco Mendes

Uit mijn dagboek - Band I
From my diary 1. A la valse 2. Preludietto 3. Quasi serioso 4. Alla marcia 5. Pauks 6. Etude To my friend Guillaume Hesse
Hans Franco Mendes

Kleine etudes
Opgedragen aan Denise Molié 1. Con leggierezza (Tempo presto) 2. Allegro passionato 3. Non troppo allegro - con affezzione 4. Andante con moto 5. Poco moderato (Tempo di 'Fox-Trot') 6. Allegretto (Tempo giusto) non troppo espressione 7. Tempo di minuetto 8. Allegro vivace (con giustezza) 9. Andante con moto (Etude-Choral) 10. Lento Alsbach & Co Amsterdam

Een lied voor Spanje om op te marcheren - Henriëtte Bosmans

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A song for Spain to march on. Words by J.W.F. Werumeus Buning. September …

Support this site

Are you happy with the attention we pay to this almost forgotten music? Consider a donation to help us continue and expand this collection.

U.S.-based donors may support our activities in a tax-efficient way through a contribution to the Leo Smit Fund at the Netherland-America Foundation, Inc. Because the NAF is a public charity, within the meaning of Sections 501 (c)(3) and 509 (a)(1) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, donors may claim the tax benefits allowed by U.S. tax law for their contributions.

Please visit http://thenaf.org/leo-smit-foundation for more information.

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Biographies in English, written by specialist authors and experienced researchers.

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Forbidden Music Regained

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