Forbidden Music Regained


Leo Smit Stichting
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Composers persecuted in WWII

During the Second World War, many composers were persecuted by the Nazi’s, because they either had a Jewish background or refused to comply with Nazi rules. Their music was banned from all public performance. The Leo Smit Foundation, founded in 1996, is committed to regain this music.

In more than 200 concerts, we’ve brought to life music that was lost and forgotten. With this website, we share with musicians, programmers and music lovers worldwide what we’ve found, starting with music from composers who lived and worked in the Netherlands.

Here you can search for composers, works for various instrumentations or vocal repertoire. Find scores, look at manuscripts and listen to sound samples.

featured composer

Reine Colaço-Osorio-Swaab

Reine Colaço-Osorio-Swaab (1881 - 1971)

Reine Colaço Osorio-Swaab started her career as a composer later in life. Initially she wrote mainly songs in a late-Romantic style. After lessons in composition with Henk Badings, her music became more atonal. We know little about how Reine survived the war, she never talked about this period. Despite the fact that most of it was published, her work was largely forgotten. by Carine Alders   more

new additions

  • March 13, 2024
    Daniël Belinfante

    Dubbel vioolconcert naar oude stijl

    Blaricum, September-October 1934. Includes piano reduction
  • Daniël Belinfante

    Tango from Suite de la Mort

    June 1934 For piano. Unfinished sketches for choir and orchestra
  • Kwartet
    Daniël Belinfante

    Kwartet

    Amsterdam early 1927 Quartet for piano, two violins and cello 1. Adagio 2. Allegro 3. Presto

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