Sem Dresden
1881 - 1957
For a full biography and a complete list of works with links to scores and recordings, visit www.forbiddenmusicregained.org
Manja Smits (harp) and Maurice Heugen (flute) recorded Sem Dresden’s Sonate pour flute et harpe op for Et’cetera Records.
Despite his German-oriented teachers, Sem Dresden felt attracted early on to modern French music. He developed his own refined and sober style, composing his entire life. Dresden was of pivotal importance to Dutch musical life, working as a choral conductor and director of the conservatories in Amsterdam and The Hague. His legendary composition classes had a major impact during the interwar period.
Sem Dresden was born into an Ashkenazi Jewish family originating from the Prussian town of Gdansk, today a city in Poland. Both his father and grandfather were diamond workers in Amsterdam. His father Marcus later developed into a successful broker in that industry, and had close contacts with Henri Polak, founder of the Dutch Diamond Workers' Union. Although a member of the Dutch-Jewish … Continue
Selected works
Oud-Nederlandsche Liederen 1916 choir
Wachterlied 1918 choir
Sonate 1918 flute and harp
Chorus tragicus 1928 choir, trumpets, bugles and percussion
Chorus symphonicus 1944 soloists, choir and orchestra
Dansflitsen 1953 orchestra
François Villon 1957 soloists, choir, orchestra and ballet
For a complete list of works by Sem Dresden 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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