Jan van Gilse

Elegy on the Death of Uilenspiegel

Jan van Gilse (1881-1944) was a Dutch composer and conductor. His opera 'Thijl' (1940), often regarded as his masterpiece and arguably the most important opera in Dutch musical history, is one of his last works and a totally individual conception. At the end of the opera 'Thijl', just before the epilogue, Van Gilse wrote a brief instrumental part that might be suitable for the concert platform. In 1941 he composed an introduction for it and adding a short ending section as well. This music became well known as 'Elegy on the Death of Uilenspiegel' (Treurmuziek bij den dood van Uilenspiegel) and has been performed many times by the 'Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra'.