May 31, 2010

• The organist is paid by the government

  The city of Victoria BC has a musician on the payrol. This person plays the Netherlands Centennial Carillon in the city. This is common in the Netherlands, where cities often have paid musical positions.

  This started with J. Pzn. Sweelinck in the 16th century. He was paid by the city and the city gave him a house to live in for free! In turn he played the organ during the week, while people were walking through the church as a common meeting place. The Oude Kerk in Amsterdam has this position of city organist still today.

  Also Haarlem, with its famous organ in the Bavo (Mozart, Handel), has an organist paid by the city. Below an interview with the organist, Jos van der Kooij, as published by the Reformatorisch Dagblad. I copied it and added the English subtitles so that you can follow the conversation.

  
  

  • 12:45 pm
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