Jan Dahmen Explained

Jan Dahmen (30 June 1898 – 20 December 1957) was a Dutch violinist. He was the first concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Dresden and of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

Life

Born in Breda, Dahmen came from a Dutch family of musicians of German descent.^[1] He was a student of André Spoor in The Hague and Carl Flesch in Berlin.^[2] In 1916, he won a gold medal in The Hague.^[3] At the age of 21 (January 1920^[4]) he became concert master II under Arthur Nikisch.^[5] of the Berliner Philharmonischen Orchestra. He left the orchestra in August 1922.^[5]

In 1922/23, he was primarius of the Dresden String Quartet.^[6] From 1924 to 1945, he was 1st concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Dresden, which was conducted during his term of office by Fritz Busch, Karl Böhm and Karl Elmendorff. Tours led him through Europe and to Dutch East Indies.^[2] As Primarius, he was the leader of the Jan Dahmen String Quartet from 1938 to 1943.^[7] He also taught at the orchestra school of the Sächsische Staatskapelle.^[8] His students included among others Horst Förster,^[9] Folker Göthel,^[10] Henry Meyer,^[11] Erich Muck^[12] and Wolfgang Schulze).

From 1946 to 1948, Dahmen was concertmaster of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Issay Dobrowen in Sweden. He was subsequently appointed Concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra by Eduard van Beinum.^[13]

Further reading

• Gerassimos Avgerinos: Künstler-Biographien: die Mitglieder im Berliner Philharmonischen Orchester von 1882–1972. Self published, Berlin 1972, .
• Nelly Backhausen, Axel Kjerulf (ed.): Musikkens Hvem-Hvad-Hvor. Politikens Musikleksikon. Vol. 2: Biografier A–Q. 2nd edition, Politikens Forlag, Kopenhagen 1950, .
• Anton van Oirschot (ed.): Encyclopedie van Noord-Brabant. Vol. 1: A–F. Market Books, Baarn 1985, .

Notes and References

1. https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000007057 Dahmen family on Grove Music Online
2. Nelly Backhausen, Axel Kjerulf (ed.): Musikkens Hvem-Hvad-Hvor. Politikens Musikleksikon. Vol. 2: Biografier A–Q. 2nd edition, Politikens Forlag, Kopenhagen 1950, .
3. Anton van Oirschot (ed.): Encyclopedie van Noord-Brabant. Vol. 1: A–F. Market Books, Baarn 1985, .
4. [Peter Muck]
5. Gerassimos Avgerinos: Künstler-Biographien: die Mitglieder im Berliner Philharmonischen Orchester von 1882–1972. Self edited, Berlin 1972, .
6. Jürgen Stegmüller: Das Streichquartett. Eine internationale Dokumentation zur Geschichte der Streichquartett-Ensembles und Streichquartett-Kompositionen von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart (Quellenkataloge zur Musikgeschichte. Vol. 40). Noetzel, Wilhelmshaven 2007,, .
7. Jürgen Stegmüller: Das Streichquartett. Eine internationale Dokumentation zur Geschichte der Streichquartett-Ensembles und Streichquartett-Kompositionen von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart (Quellenkataloge zur Musikgeschichte. Vol. 40). Noetzel, Wilhelmshaven 2007,, .
8. [Ortrun Landmann]
9. Dieter Härtwig: 125 Jahre Dresdner Philharmonie. In Ders. (ed.): 125 Jahre Dresdner Philharmonie. 1870–1995. DZA Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft, Altenburg 1995,,, here .
10. Hedwig und Erich Hermann Mueller von Asow (ed.): Kürschners Handbücher deutscher Musiker-Kalender 1954. 2nd edition of the Deutschen Musiker-Lexikons, de Gruyter, Berlin 1954, .
11. https://www.lexm.uni-hamburg.de/object/lexm_lexmperson_00001229 LexMusikNS|00001229|Henry W. Meyer
12. Hans-Rainer Jung: Das Gewandhaus-Orchester. Seine Mitglieder und seine Geschichte seit 1743. Faber & Faber, Leipzig 2006,, .
13. Truus de Leur: Eduard van Beinum 1900–1959. Musicus tussen musici. Biografie. Thoth, Bossum 2004,, .