The organ works on this album were recorded in the Oude Kerk of Amsterdam, a church where some of Rembrandt's children were baptized and his wife Saskia was buried.
Historical Context
In the Dutch Republic, unlike other European countries, music making was appreciated by local citizens of the upper classes rather than being centered in Courts and Churches of State.
Instruments
The transept organ in the Oude Kerk of Amsterdam, used for this recording, was recently returned to the meantone temperament, which provides a typical 17th-century sound.
Historical Context
The album connects music from the Golden Age of Rembrandt to provide insight into the Dutch religious and social environment of the 17th century.
Historical Context
Organ playing was allowed in Protestant churches in the Netherlands before sermons to familiarize people with psalm melodies, and organists like Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck were commissioned to play daily for the public.
Composer Biography
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, a composer featured on this album, had a reputation covering all of Western Europe during his lifetime and was important for the development of Protestant church music in Northern Germany.
Composer Biography
Constantijn Huygens, a diplomat, poet, and musical 'amateur' whose works are on this album, was Rembrandt's discoverer and gave the young master a vital boost in his career.
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