JOHAN WAGENAAR

Johan Wagenaar

The composer, conductor, organist and teacher Johan (also Jo and Johannes) Wagenaar was at the centre of musical life in Utrecht. He often appeared in concerts, at times as the conductor of his Toonkunst Choir (with which he presented the Dutch premieres of many foreign works), and as an organist, ...
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componist, dirigent, orgel

Mentioned in the biography of

1875   Richard Hol
1879   Peter van Anrooy
1881   Jan Brandts Buys
1883   Catharina van Rennes
1890   Jakob van Domselaer
1895   Alexander Voormolen
1906   Jan Ingenhoven
1910   Willem Andriessen
1911   Willem Pijper
1921   Léon Orthel
1946   Diderik Wagenaar
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Biography Johan Wagenaar

The composer, conductor, organist and teacher Johan (also Jo and Johannes) Wagenaar was at the centre of musical life in Utrecht. He often appeared in concerts, at times as the conductor of his Toonkunst Choir (with which he presented the Dutch premieres of many foreign works), and as an organist, widely praised for Bach interpretations and talent as an improviser. He also performed in Arnhem, The Hague and Leiden as conductor of the Toonkunst choirs in these cities. Hector Berlioz and Gustav Mahler were often programmed, and their music influenced Wagenaar's own composition. Other influences on his work were Johannes Brahms and Richard Strauss. Wagenaar was the teacher of many composers, among whom Peter van Anrooy, Willem Pijper, Léon Orthel and Alexander Voormolen.

1862

Johan Wagenaar is born in Utrecht on November 1.

1875

His musical talent is recognized and at age 13 he begins studying the piano with Willem Petri at Utrecht's Toonkunst Music School. Hereafter he studies the organ, harmony and composition with Richard Hol.

1885

Wagenaar graduates from the music school and becomes a teacher there. He studies the organ with Samuel de Lange and composition in Berlin (Germany) with Heinrich von Herzogenberg.

1888

He succeeds his teacher Richard Hol as organist at the Utrecht Cathedral.

1900

With Bernard Zweers and Alphons Diepenbrock, Wagenaar reinvigorates the role of the composer in Dutch musical life. To make Dutch music more popular, he often adds a humorous element to his work.

1904

Upon the death of Richard Hol, Wagenaar again succeeds him, this time as director of the Toonkunst Music School in Utrecht.

1905

Wagenaar's 'Ouverture Cyrano de Bergerac' is such a strong accomplishment that Diepenbrock comments: “With this overture, Wagenaar joins the ranks of the eight or ten true composers in Europe today.”

1916

The University of Utrecht awards him an honorary doctorate.

1919 - 1937

He resigns from his positions as an organist and music school director in Utrecht to become the director of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.

1941

Johann Wagenaar dies in The Hague on June 17.

1947

The Johan Wagenaar Foudation is created and sets itself the goal of stimulating composition in the Netherlands. From the beginning, it awards prizes, the highest of which is given for a composer's complete work, the Johan Wagenaar Prize.

2004

The authors Johannes Wagenaar and Jaap van Benthem publish the book 'Johan Wagenaar (1862-1941). Leven en werk van een veelzijdig kunstenaar' [The Life and Work of a Versatile Artist].

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