Margreet Prinsen
English
Dutch
Netherlands
1936
1964-1967
Within a diploma course at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Amsterdamsch Conservatorium, Sweelinck Conservatorium)
Individual private lessons
During my final year of organ studies at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, my professor Anthon van der Horst advised me to follow lessons in basso continuo and harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt. They had already known each other for many years: Van der Horst told me that the young Gustav [12-13 years old] and his sister Trudelies received music theory lessons from him at his home, and that at an early age Leonhardt went with his father to concerts of the Netherlands Bach Society in Naarden, conducted by van der Horst. It fascinated me how subtle and poetic Leonhardt's approach to early music was, and how the sound of the harpsichord came to life through his way of playing. Inspired by this, after completing my diploma in solo organ playing, I followed a second major in harpsichord with Leonhardt, who was sometimes replaced by Anneke Uittenbosch when he was absent due to concerts abroad. I had to wait two years after completing my organ diploma in order to earn enough money to buy a harpsichord before beginning the course of study with Leonhardt. After my harpsichord diploma with Leonhardt, I received some individual private lessons from him on the organ.
As mentioned above, I held a soloist's diploma in organ from the Amsterdam Conservatory, where I studied with Anthon van der Horst [1899-1965], who began teaching organ there in 1935 and choral and orchestral conducting in 1936. In his time he was well aware of the practice of early music, and he immersed himself in the styles and backgrounds of compositions. For example, when performing Bach's Passions, he conducted from photographic reproductions of original manuscripts. The recorders, viols and harpsichords used in those years were, in his opinion, incorrect copies, and in his view more attention should have been devoted to real historic instruments. Leonhardt appreciated him for his efforts.
Amongst others, compositions by Sweelinck, Merula, Frescobaldi, Louis and François Couperin, Rameau, Scarlatti and Bach, with the Goldberg Variations as the obligatory work for the final diploma exam.
Especially at the beginning of my studies, each piece of music was looked at again in the following lesson.
Most of the lessons I received were given in the Conservatory but sometimes at his home on the Nieuwstraat, afterwards in "Huis Bartolotti". I received my organ lessons in de Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam. Leonhardt played during the lessons, after giving very detailed instructions.
In his lessons, technical matters such as using wrist and arm movements, "toucher", legatissimo and articulation were touched upon. This was, however, always related to the expression of a composition. He gave very detailed instructions about how to articulate, and why. He also encouraged me to read a lot, amongst other things about fingerings, although early fingerings were not explicitly discussed. When a certain articulation was hard to get right at first, his advice was to try a more difficult fingering, for instance using a fourth finger twice to accentuate a certain note.
Louis Couperin and Froberger were recommended with enthusiasm. Handel was not his favorite composer.
He repeatedly pointed out that there are no unambiguous answers in the interpretation of early music.
To absorb his respect for the composers' intentions.
Yes, in some individual organ lessons. He was also willing to advise me about a harpsichord purchase. Concerning buying an instrument, Leonhardt always advised that one should be informed by several builders. For my first instrument he called Rainer Schütze in Heidelberg, who made me a spinet in 1962. I next acquired a harpsichord from Wilhelmus Jiskoot in 1964-65, a copy of a Frank Hubbard instrument based on an original by Taskin. Leonhardt probably also mentioned Martin Skowroneck, but such an instrument was outside my price range. The harpsichord I used for my Duphly recording was a Ruckers copy by Joel Katzmen, a builder also mentioned by Leonhardt. Other further contacts I had with Leonhardt were after my concerts, when he was always willing to give an evaluation.
I remember from my studies with Anthon van der Horst that organ music should be played with clear registrations and rich contrasts (register dynamics), sparing rubato, and a variety of articuations from staccato, to leggiero, to legato. Van den Horst''s own "toucher" was beautiful. But the way Gustav Leonhardt used rubato, and his attention to details and dynamic differences even within the bar, were completely new and fascinating to me. The things I learned from him are still valuable to me, and I am very grateful.
Margreet Prinsen holds soloist's diplomas in organ and harpsichord from the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she studied with Anthon van der Horst and Gustav Leonhardt. She has performed regularly as a soloist on both instruments and has made multiple radio recordings. She appears as one of the players on various CD anthologies devoted to historical organs: 'The Historic Organ in the Netherlands' [Midwolde], 'Organs of the Netherlands' [Midwolde, Westerbork], 'Organ Culture in Groningen' [Eenum, Kantens, Midwolde]. This last received an Edison award. As a continuo player she participates in various ensembles, including the Barlheze Consort. She has performed with, among others, baritone Jasper Schweppe and gambist Jan Goorissen of Trio Zuylekom, and with cellist Lucia Swarts and gambist Sarah Walder. Margreet Prinsen taught for many years at the Groningen Conservatory. In 2016 she performed 'Die Kunst der Fuge' by Bach on harpsichord, together with Leonore Lub on organ, in various locations throughout North Holland. She recently made a solo recording on the historical Hinsz organ in the beautiful church of Zandeweer.