Carel Jacobs
1909 - 1980
For a full biography and a complete list of works with links to scores and recordings, visit Forbidden Music Regained
In 2012, Dr. Hans van Dijk published a biography (in Dutch) on Carel Jacobs. The book can be ordered online.
Carel Jacobs was an outstanding student at the Nederlandsche R.K. Kerkmuziekschool (Dutch Roman Catholic Church music school), where he studied composition with Johan Winnubst. Feeling unsafe as 'Vierteljude', he gave up his conducting classes with Carl Schuricht in Germany. During the war he helped many people in hiding and got caught and escaped twice. He conducted several choirs in the east of the Netherlands and became the director of the conservatory in Enschede. His compositions vary from chamber music to music for his own choirs.
Carel Wilhelmus Joseph Jacobs was born on March 26, 1909 in 's-Heerenberg, a small town in the municipality of Montferland. His father Joannes Jacobs was a well-known figure as the local hairdresser and a competent musician. His mother Anna Bossmann was half-Jewish and from the German town Emmerich. After marrying Joannes in 1907, she converted to Catholicism. The couple soon belonged to the well-to-do middle class of the town. Carel received his first music lessons from his father: flute, clarinet, cornet à pistons, trombone, violin, piano and organ. In a later stage of his career, he was primarily… Continue
Selected works
Ecce Sacerdos 1933 mixed choir (sattbb)
Kyrie Magnae Deus 1934-35 soprano, flute and oboe
Die Chinesische Flöte 1934-35 soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon or cello and viola
Declamatorium voor het sanatorium te Hellendoorn 1951-52 soprano, spoken voice, mixed choir, children’s choir, flute, oboe, bassoon, string quintet and harp
For a complete list of works by Carel Jacobs visit our website Forbidden Music Regained
Let forbidden music sound again
In the Second World War, many composers were silenced because of their Jewish descent or their resistance. Their music was forbidden. The Leo Smit Stichting carries out research, tells composers' stories, makes sheet music available and performs forgotten music. Together with musicians, programmers, researchers and listeners we give composers their rightful place in music history.
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