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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

Johanna Bordewijk-Roepman (1892 - 1971)

Johanna Bordewijk-Roepman was a versatile composer. She wrote for piano, small ensembles, for large orchestra, choirs and even carillon. She largely taught herself composition and displayed an enormous originality. Her music cannot be categorized into any style or school. During World War II she was a supporter of the artists' resistance and courageously refused to register with the Kultuurkamer , imposed by the German occupiers to register, regulate and/or restrict the activities of … more

new additions

November 13, 2023

Nico Richter

Concertino voor violoncel en zes instrumenten
I. Allegro vivo II. Lento III. Presto First performance 19 July 1935 by the chamber orchestra of the Philharmonic Society (Filharmonische Vereniging) in Brussels (Concert Jeunesse), conducted by Hermann Scherchen. Awarded with the Prix Henri le Boeuf.
Hans Lachman

Quatuor a cordes
Not dated. 1. Allegro moderato 2. Andante sostenuto 3. Allegro molto 4. L’istesso tempo
Dick Kattenburg

Escapades : version for two violas
Version for viola (2021), original written for two violins

La Mort - Leo Smit

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Texts by Charles Baudelaire

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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Forbidden Music Regained

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