Page 54 - CJAug25

Repertoire & Resources - World Musics and Cultures

choirs alike flourish. The spectrum is broad, encom- developed by master composers such as Josquin des
passing classical chamber choirs, church and commu- Prez, Orlando di Lasso, and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck.
nity choirs, shanty choirs, gospel ensembles, and inno- Their polyphonic masses, motets and psalm settings
vative contemporary vocal groups. This high level of are marked by innovative counterpoint and emotional
civic participation in choral singing makes it a corner- depth on par with their Italian and German contem-
stone of Dutch cultural life. 2 poraries. The influence of those composers was not
Crucially, this participation transcends demograph- restricted to the Low Countries but also left a mark on
ic boundaries. Though recent shifts, such as an age- German Baroque composers. 6
ing membership base, pose challenges for the amateur Dutch choral music is an excellent example for their
choral sector, the foundational infrastructure remains ability to create world music that, despite being deeply
strong. More than half of Dutch choirs say that the rooted in regional culture, progressed to achieve world-
majority of their members are over the age of fifty, ac- wide recognition, influencing and eventually being
3
cording to the 2024 VerenigingsMonitor. There is less adapted by various choral traditions through time and
youth involvement, particularly in contrast to the Unit- distance. This is a good example of how local innova-
ed States, where school and religious choirs offer young tion interacts with international culture.
singers strong platforms. Nonetheless, the Dutch mod-
el demonstrates the possibility of a choral culture that
transcends institutional boundaries and lasts a lifetime. Tradition as Cultural Heritage:
The Bach Passion Phenomenon
One of the most distinctive elements of Dutch choral
The Professional Sector life is its enduring devotion to the Passions of J. S. Bach,
In addition to this strong amateur history, the Neth- particularly the Matthäus-Passion and Johannes-Passion.
erlands is home to several professionally recognized Nowhere in the world are these works performed more
choirs that enjoy international recognition. The Lau- frequently or more diversely than in the Netherlands.
rens Collegium, Cappella Amsterdam, and the Neth- Audiences all over the country attend hundreds of Pas-
erlands Chamber Choir are known for their innovative sion performances every year in the weeks leading up
programming, technical mastery, and dedication to to Easter, which range from elaborate professional con-
old and new music. These ensembles often collaborate certs to locally inspired amateur versions. 7
with renowned composers and multidisciplinary artists, The degree to which these Passions have evolved
which shows that the choral art is very much alive. 4 from merely liturgical observances to cultural events
Dutch conductors such as Peter Dijkstra, Jos van makes the Dutch approach unique. The Matthäus-Pas-
Veldhoven, and the late Reinbert de Leeuw have be- sion, in particular, is considered a national cultural mon-
come known throughout the world for their creative ument by many. Ensembles such as the Netherlands
interpretations and historically informed performance Bach Society (notably at the Grote Kerk in Naarden)
techniques. In addition to influencing Dutch choral have set the benchmark for scholarly rigour and ex-
5
music, their work has had a lasting impact on how peo- pressive depth, often combining historically informed
ple around the world view both old and contemporary instrumentation with modern dramaturgical elements.
music. Some modern Dutch choirs even perform these Pas-
sions in multimedia or semi-theatrical settings, adding
further levels of interpretation while still honoring the
Tradition as Cultural Heritage: original work. The Dutch Passion tradition serves as an
The Renaissance example of how to recontextualize historical material

The Netherlands has a long history of being a center for contemporary audiences at a time when classical
of musical creativity since the Renaissance era. Cho- concert audiences are dwindling in many regions of
ral Franco-Netherlandish tradition in the region was the world.

52 CHORAL JOURNAL August 2025 Volume 66 Number 1