Dresden, Sem (EN)

Dresden Sem, *20 April 1881 Amsterdam, †30 July 1957 The Hague, Dutch composer, choral conductor, teacher, and organizer of musical life. He first studied under B. Zweers (theory) at the Amsterdam Conservatory, and later in Berlin under H. Pfitzner (composition, conducting). Around 1915 he founded an a cappella choir in Haarlem, later known as the Haarlemsche Motet- en Madrigaalvereeniging, with which he undertook several concert tours. In 1919 Dresden became professor of theory and composition, and in 1924 director of the Amsterdam Conservatory. From 1937 to 1949 he was director of the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague, with an interruption during 1941–45, when he was removed from the institution by the Germans. At the age of 70 he became head of the Dutch section of Jeunesses Musicales and was actively involved in organizing the youth concert movement; he also devoted himself to composition until the end of his life.

Dresden – alongside W. Pijper – was one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Dutch musical life. His performances as conductor of the madrigal choir, with a repertoire ranging from the early Renaissance to contemporary works, brought him great fame in his homeland. As a composer, Dresden created a core repertoire of contemporary Dutch choral music; particularly valuable are his vocal-instrumental works, in which, within a moderate musical language, he achieved interesting timbral combinations linked with structurally rich rhythmic processes (Chorus tragicus, Catena musicale). His exploration of sound, also evident in his chamber music (works for wind instruments, Sonata for flute and harp), found its fullest expression in his instrumental concertos, whose main idea is the creation of specific sonic contexts for the solo instrument, with a special role for percussion and wind instruments (violin concertos).

Literature: P.F. Sanders Moderne Nederlandse componisten, chapter Sem Dresden, The Hague 1931; W. Paap Sem Dresden, in: “Mens en melodie” I, 1946; S. van Ameringen Sem Dresden, in: “Musica” XI 1957; J. Wouters Sem Dresden, “Sonorum speculum” 1965, no. 25; M. Flothuis 1882–1982. Betrachtungen über hundert Jahre niederländische Musikgeschichte, “Tijdschrift van de Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muzieksechiedenis” XXXII, 1982; L. Samama Zeventig jaar Nederlandse muziek (1915–1985), Amsterdam 1986; F. Zwart Nederlandse Muziekarchieven. Overzicht van de collecties, The Hague 1987