Background
Wagenaar, Bernard was born on July 18, 1894 in Arnhem, The Netherlands. Son of Hendrikus Wijnandus and Charlotta Jacoba M. M. (van Rooijen) Wagenaar.
composer music educator university professor
Wagenaar, Bernard was born on July 18, 1894 in Arnhem, The Netherlands. Son of Hendrikus Wijnandus and Charlotta Jacoba M. M. (van Rooijen) Wagenaar.
Educated in private school, The Netherlands. Studied violin with Gerard Veerman, piano with Madame Veerman-Bekker, composition with Doctor Johan Wagenaar.
Came to the United States, 1920, naturalized, 1927. Teacher and conductor, Holland, 1914-1920. Member of violin secretary New York Philharmonic Orchestra, 1921-1923.
Teacher Institute of Musical Art, 1925-1937.
Teacher of fugue, orchestration and composition, Julliard School Music, 1927-1971. Compositions: (songs) Three Songs from the Chinese (voice, flute, harp, piano), 1921.
From a Very Little Sphinx, 1921. (chamber music) Sonata for Piano, 1925.
Sonata for Violin and Piano, 1926.
Sonatina for Violoncello and Piano (Columbia recording) 1934. Second String Quartet, 1932. Third String Quartet, 1936.
(orchestra) Sinfonietta for small orchestra, 1929.
Violin Concerto, 1940. Three Symphonies: Triple Concerto for Flute, Harp, Cello and Orchestra.
Divertimento for Orchestra, 1927. Fanfare for Airmen (for brass instruments).
Concertino for 8 instruments.
Feuilleton for orchestra. Fourth String Quartet (commissioned by the Kindler Foundation). Four Vignettes for harp.
Also various other compositions in manuscript.
Awards: 1st place for Sonata for Violin and Piano by Society for Publication of America Music, 1928. Sinfonietta was only American work chosen for festival of International Society for Contemporary Music, Liege, Belgium, 1930.
Triple Concerto, New York, 1941. Two Arrangements of Spanish Folk Songs, 1942.
Chamber opera, commissioned by Alice M. Ditson Fund, Columbia University Chamber opera, Pieces of Eight,” 1944.
Song of Mourning,” (memoriam (for orchestra), for fallen Dutch patriots), 1944, Washington-New York radio, and others Symphony, Number 4, 1949. Five Tableaux for Cello and Orchestra, 1952.
Divertimento for Small Orchestra, 1952.
Concert Overture for small orchestra, commissioned by Louisville orchestra, 1952. Five Tableaux for cello and orchestra, 1955.
Preamble for Orchestra, commendation by Juilliard School, Music, 1956. And several others; decorated Officer of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands).
Works have been played by the leading orchestras both United States and foreign, including New York Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony, Detroit, National and Minneapolis Symphony orchestras, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Saint Louis, Colorado Springs, C.B.S. symphony orchestras.
Member International Society Contemporary Music (member board directors American section), American Society Composers.
Married Irene Chadwick, September 11, 1921. Children: Theodore van Rooijen, Anneke (Mistress Alexander Bacon Brook).