Bernard Zweers - Saskia Concert Ouverture (1906)

Bernard Zweers (born Bernardus Josephus Wilhelmus Zweers) (18 May 1854 in Amsterdam – 9 December 1924 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch composer and music teacher.

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Saskia Concert Ouverture (1906)

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Lucas Vis

Saskia van Uylenburgh (West Frisian: Saakje fan Uylenburgh; 2 August 1612 – 14 June 1642) was the wife of painter Rembrandt van Rijn. In the course of her life, she was his model for some of his paintings, drawings and etchings. She was the daughter of Rombertus Uylenburg, the mayor as well as the justice of the Court of Friesland

Zweers was born as the son of a music dealer and was self-taught in the beginning. Since his early childhood he suffered from tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Nevertheless, he started composing chamber music at the age of 14. Decisive for his musical development was attending the Berlin premiere of Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen in 1881. After the completion of his first symphony, he had the opportunity to become an apprentice to Salomon Jadassohn in Leipzig, who taught him counterpoint. After his return to Amsterdam he taught harmony and composition at the Amsterdam Conservatory and the Muziekschool van Toonkunst from 1885 to 1922. Among the many Dutch composers he has trained are Hendrik Andriessen, Sem Dresden, Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer, Willem Landré, Rosy Wertheim, Leo Smit, Evert Cornelis, Daniël Ruyneman and John Brookhouse McCarthy. He was also conductor of various choirs, but due to his increasing deafness he was only able to maintain that for a few years.

Zweers strove to create a national Dutch musical art and therefore used only Dutch texts in his vocal works, including those written by Nicolaas Beets and J.J.L. ten Kate. Later in life he particularly preferred poems by P.C. Boutens. His wife was the singer Dora de Louw and he wrote a large number of songs for her.