Pianist, composer, and psychiatrist Hans Henkemans (1913-1995) was an iconic figure in Dutch musical life. He was regarded as one of the Netherlands’ greatest pianists and was one of the most frequently performed composers in the 1950s. As a psychotherapist, Henkemans assisted musicians and other artists with their professional practice.
Hans Henkemans was one of the greatest Dutch pianists of the twentieth century. He was globally regarded as an unrivaled interpreter of Debussy. Also as a Mozart performer, he was unparalleled and was a welcomed guest at the Salzburg Festival. As a soloist, he played with conductors such as Otto Klemperer, Carlo Maria Giulini, Eduard van Beinum, and Bernard Haitink.
During his 25-year career as a concert pianist (including being a soloist at the Concertgebouw 59 times), he performed both domestically and abroad. He played all 27 piano concertos by Mozart on the radio. In addition, he recorded the complete piano repertoire of Claude Debussy. Aside from these ‘specializations’ (Debussy and Mozart), he was also appreciated as an interpreter of works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Maurice Ravel, among others.
In 1968, due to poor health, Henkemans stopped performing. His phonograph recordings are still sought after by musicians and collectors today. Kristian Zimerman is a great admirer of Henkemans’ piano playing, and they also met each other a few times.
From 1945 to 1977, Henkemans was one of the most frequently performed Dutch composers. His compositions encompass orchestral and vocal works, chamber music, and an opera. Henkemans began composing at the age of eight and wrote his first piano concerto when he was eighteen.
Henkemans received piano and composition lessons from Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer. From 1933 to 1938, Henkemans studied composition under Willem Pijper. Just after the war, in December 1945, he made his debut as both a composer and pianist on the big stage. He himself performed as a pianist in his Passacaglia and Gigue with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Eduard van Beinum.
Conductor Bernard Haitink was also an advocate of his music, and prominent musicians performed his solo concerts for violin, harp, cello, flute, etc., including Phia Berghout, Theo Olof, Bernard Kruysen, Garrick Ohlsson, and Isabelle van Keulen. In 1953, Hans Henkemans was awarded the State Prize for Music for his violin concerto. In 1964, Henkemans received the Visser Neerlandia Prize for his ‘Sonata’ for piano. The declamation ‘Bericht aan de levenden’ (1965), based on the text by H.M. van Randwijk, was commissioned by the Stichting Kunstenaarsverzet 1942-1945.
In the 1960s, Henkemans increasingly opposed the atonal music trend, which he called ‘sonic.’ This led to criticism from modern musicians. From the 1970s, his compositions were, to Henkemans’ regret, rarely played. Nevertheless, Henkemans continued to compose until his death in 1995, including the opera ‘Winter Cruise,’ and his third piano concerto premiered in 1994.
In addition to being a musician, Hans Henkemans was also a doctor specializing in psychiatry. He was fascinated by the relationship between music and the psyche all his life. After his active career as a pianist ended in 1969, he worked as a psychotherapist treating many musicians and other artists.
Based on his experiences as a therapist, he formulated his own theories about music and the psyche and published various articles. At the age of 67, he received his doctorate on this topic from the University of Amsterdam. Henkemans developed a unique, psychologically substantiated music theory and formulated the first scientific definition of music.
Hans Henkemans (1913 – 1995)
Pianist, composer, and psychiatrist Hans Henkemans (1913-1995) was an iconic figure in Dutch musical life. He was regarded as one of the Netherlands’ greatest pianists and was one of the most frequently performed composers in the 1950s. As a psychotherapist, Henkemans assisted musicians and other artists with their professional practice.
Hans Henkemans was one of the greatest Dutch pianists of the twentieth century. He was globally regarded as an unrivaled interpreter of Debussy. Also as a Mozart performer, he was unparalleled and was a welcomed guest at the Salzburg Festival. As a soloist, he played with conductors such as Otto Klemperer, Carlo Maria Giulini, Eduard van Beinum, and Bernard Haitink.
During his 25-year career as a concert pianist (including being a soloist at the Concertgebouw 59 times), he performed both domestically and abroad. He played all 27 piano concertos by Mozart on the radio. In addition, he recorded the complete piano repertoire of Claude Debussy. Aside from these ‘specializations’ (Debussy and Mozart), he was also appreciated as an interpreter of works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Maurice Ravel, among others.
In 1968, due to poor health, Henkemans stopped performing. His phonograph recordings are still sought after by musicians and collectors today. Kristian Zimerman is a great admirer of Henkemans’ piano playing, and they also met each other a few times.
From 1945 to 1977, Henkemans was one of the most frequently performed Dutch composers. His compositions encompass orchestral and vocal works, chamber music, and an opera. Henkemans began composing at the age of eight and wrote his first piano concerto when he was eighteen.
Henkemans received piano and composition lessons from Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer. From 1933 to 1938, Henkemans studied composition under Willem Pijper. Just after the war, in December 1945, he made his debut as both a composer and pianist on the big stage. He himself performed as a pianist in his Passacaglia and Gigue with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Eduard van Beinum.
Conductor Bernard Haitink was also an advocate of his music, and prominent musicians performed his solo concerts for violin, harp, cello, flute, etc., including Phia Berghout, Theo Olof, Bernard Kruysen, Garrick Ohlsson, and Isabelle van Keulen. In 1953, Hans Henkemans was awarded the State Prize for Music for his violin concerto. In 1964, Henkemans received the Visser Neerlandia Prize for his ‘Sonata’ for piano. The declamation ‘Bericht aan de levenden’ (1965), based on the text by H.M. van Randwijk, was commissioned by the Stichting Kunstenaarsverzet 1942-1945.
In the 1960s, Henkemans increasingly opposed the atonal music trend, which he called ‘sonic.’ This led to criticism from modern musicians. From the 1970s, his compositions were, to Henkemans’ regret, rarely played. Nevertheless, Henkemans continued to compose until his death in 1995, including the opera ‘Winter Cruise,’ and his third piano concerto premiered in 1994.
In addition to being a musician, Hans Henkemans was also a doctor specializing in psychiatry. He was fascinated by the relationship between music and the psyche all his life. After his active career as a pianist ended in 1969, he worked as a psychotherapist treating many musicians and other artists.
Based on his experiences as a therapist, he formulated his own theories about music and the psyche and published various articles. At the age of 67, he received his doctorate on this topic from the University of Amsterdam. Henkemans developed a unique, psychologically substantiated music theory and formulated the first scientific definition of music.
Discography
TRPTK nine-year anniversary sampler
Various Artists
Eclipse, Vol. 2: Hans Henkemans
Mattias Spee
South Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Ed Spanjaard