Forbidden Music Regained


Leo Smit Stichting
Search this site

Explore scores and sound samples

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

Lex van Delden

Lex van Delden (1919 - 1988)

During World War II, Alexander Zwaap had to cover his identity by living under an alias. As of 1953, he legally changed his name to Lex van Delden. His life story is impressive considering the traumatic events he experienced in the war years. A past of which he never spoke, and which he knew to overcome with tremendous courage and resilience. Music was for him a “transfer medium between people.” He literally practiced this with his compositions. Van Delden was a great advocate of …   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

Read about composers

Biographies in English, written by specialist authors and experienced researchers.

Search compositions

Browse through work lists or search by instrumentation, duration or genre. Find published scores, manuscripts and sound samples.

Find recordings

Recording information is linked to composers’ biographies as well as to individual compositions.