PIJPER, WILLEM FREDERIK JOHANNES

(1894–1947)

Com poser and music critic. After studying at the conservatory in Utrecht, Pijper was appointed in 1918 professor of harmony at the Amster damAcademy of Music, a position that he combined with writing re views for the Utrechtsch Dagblad. In 1926, he became coeditor of the periodical De Muziek. Pijper’s compositions include a septet, sonatas for violin, trios for piano, piano sonatas, symphonies (the third, in 1926, was dedicated to Pierre Monteux [1875–1964], director of the Concertgebouw Orchestra), and a piano concerto (1927). His Six Symphonic Epigrams (1928), Six Adagios for String Orchestra (1940), and the Aphorisms for Piano (1915) are his most famous works. Pijper was influenced by French Impressionism and by mod ern composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, and Bela Bartok. His later works are characterized by pluritonality and plurirhythmicality.