Nicolaus à Kempis

Nicolaus à Kempis (* 1600, † August 11 1676 in Brussels) was a Dutch- Belgian organist and composer.

Life

Kempis ' birthplace is unknown, the German -American musicologist Willi Apel suspected Florence as the birthplace. Recent investigations consider the possibility that Kempis never was in Italy and he came through caused as a result of the religious wars hikes by other musicians only in contact with the then new Italian violin music.

The first useful biographical mention his attitude in 1626 as organist of St Gudula Cathedral in Brussels, as the successor of Anthoen van den Kerckhoven. Between 1644 and 1649 he published at Pierre Phalèse in Antwerp several collections with a total of 96 instrumental works and eight motets. This Kempis is one of the composers who published most of the sonatas in the first half of the 17th century. The instrumental works include both solo works for violin and basso continuo, and trio sonatas to sixteenth -part works. His style is clearly of Italian style. Violin Technically, many of its designated as sonatas Symphonia most significant works in the style of Salamone Rossi, Marco Uccellini or Biagio Marini who was visiting Brussels in 1626. They therefore represent important examples of early Italian Baroque violin music.

The son of Joannes Florentinus à Kempis ( 1635 - after 1711) followed his father in 1670 as organist of the Cathedral of Brussels.

Works

• Symphoniae unius, duorum, trium violinorum. Authore Nicolao à Kempis, ... Antwerpiæ, Apud Heredes Petri Phalesij ad insigne Davidis Regis, 1644th
• Symphoniae unius, duorum, trium, IV et V. instrumentorum adjunctæ quatuor 3 instrumentorum & duarum vocum. Auctore Nicolao à Kempis, ... Operis secundi liber primus. Antwerpiæ ..., Apud Magdalenam Phalesia ad insigne Davidis Regis, back to 1647.
• Symphoniae unius, duorum, trium, IV et V. instrumentorum adjunctæ quatuor 3 instrumentorum & duarum vocum. Auctore Nicolao à Kempis, ... Opus tertium et ultimum. Antwerpiæ ..., Apud Magdalenam Phalesia ad insigne Davidis Regis, 1642.
• Symphoniae unius, duorum, trium, IV V VI et. instrumentorum. Auctore Nicolao à Kempis, ... Opus quartum. Antwerpiæ ..., Apud Magdalenam Phalesia ad insigne Davidis Regis, 1642. ( Lost except for a viol part )
• A fifth opus with masses and motets is lost