Bram Beekman (Organ, Composer)

Born: November 5, 1949 - Vlissingen, the Netherlands
Died: March 30, 2016 - Middelburg, the Netherlands

The Dutch organist and composer, Bram Beekman, studied from 1967 to 1972 organ with Louis Toebosch at the Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (Brabants Conservatorium). After gaining several diplomas, among which the soloist diploma with cum laude, he continued his studies with Anton Heiller in Vienna. In 1975, he received the Prix d'Excellence.

Bram Beekman gave many concerts - in his homeland and abroad - and appeared also regularly in collaboration with radio and TV stations.

Bram Beekman composed several works for organ, choir and orchestra. For the label LBCD he recorded the complete organ works of J.S. Bach on fourteen baroque organs in Holland, which appeared on 9 2-CD's albums. The complete work of César Franck on the Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Cathédrale Jean Baptist te Perpignan appeared on 3 CD's.

From 1980 to 2012, Bram Beekman was Professor of organ at the Brabants Conservatorium, and from 1997 he was organist at the Oostkerk in Middelburg.

Bram Beekman became a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2014. Following an illness which began in September 2015, Bram Beekman died in Middelburg on March 30, 2016, aged 66.

Source: Knipscheer-orgel, Grote of St. Jeroenskerk, Noordwijk-Binnen & Fontys Conservatorium Websites, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2006); Music & Vision Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2006); Johan van Veen (Dates, April 2016)

Bram Beekman: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Savior of the nations, come) for organ

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

Links to other Sites

Bram Beekman (Knipscheer-orgel, Grote of St. Jeroenskerk, Noordwijk-Binnen) [Dutch]

Bram Beekman - orgel (Fontys Conservatorium) [Dutch]
Bram Beekman (Music & Vision)