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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

Leo Kok (1893 - 1992)

The term ‘homo universalis’ or Renaissance Man originated as a description of individuals, that helped humanity escape the dark ages by virtue of their open minds and tenacious pursuit of new knowledge. Leo Kok was such a polymath in his own lifetime, the twentieth century; a gifted football player, a pianist of the highest level, a vocal coach, a composer. He also had a great interest in literature and politics. As an anti-fascist activist he joined the resistance … more

new additions

January 23, 2026

Paul Hermann

Deuxième Quatuor à cordes
à Monsieur le chanoine Louis Ollier en hommage profondement respectueux I. Moderato assai - Toulouse, 13 July 1941 II. Presto - Toulouse, 19 July 1941 III. Lento ma non troppo - Toulouse, 1 July 1942 IV. Allegretto - Toulouse, 14 July 1942 V. Allegro vivo - Toulouse, September 1942
January 21, 2026

Géza Frid

Duo für Violine und Violoncelle Kan-Ti
Dick Kattenburg

Suite voor viool en piano
19 March 1943 (score). 19 March 1942 (violin part). First word in title is crossed out. Signed under a false name KvD. Pages 5-8 are missing in score. Revised February 1944. Violin part is complete I. Andante moderato II. Moderato III. Nigun

Trois chansons de l'amour marin - Henriëtte Bosmans

play continuously

Words by Paul Fort. August 1949. Contains 'Complainte du petit …

Support this site

Are you happy with the attention we pay to this almost forgotten music? Consider a donation to help us continue and expand this collection.

U.S.-based donors may support our activities in a tax-efficient way through a contribution to the Leo Smit Fund at the Netherland-America Foundation, Inc. Because the NAF is a public charity, within the meaning of Sections 501 (c)(3) and 509 (a)(1) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, donors may claim the tax benefits allowed by U.S. tax law for their contributions.

Please visit http://thenaf.org/leo-smit-foundation for more information.

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Forbidden Music Regained

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