September 8 - Willem Pijper (The Musical Birthday Series)

Willem Pijper (8 September 1894 – 18 March 1947) was the most prominent composer in the Netherlands in the mid third of the last century.

Dutch Treat

Doff your caps and shout hooray

For Willem Pijper’s natal day,

Who ranks in Holland’s pantheon 

Of great composers dead and gone.

Stifle your incipient yawn

On learning this phenomenon 

And be respectful thereupon.

You may not think it counts for much,

That is, at least, unless you’re Dutch.

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