Verhaaren, Frans

Jan Dewilde (translation: Jo Sneppe)

After initial music lessons taught by his father, Verhaaren through the mediation of Peter Benoit started his musical studies at the Municipal Music School of Antwerp as a fourteen-year-old. There he studied with Joseph Tilborghs, Joseph Callaerts and Jan Blockx. Upon graduation he became organist at St Anthony's Church (until 1901) and subsequently at St James' Church in Antwerp, where he was appointed as Kapellmeister on 28 September 1901. He also became conductor of the choral section of the 'Burgerzonen' (Civil Sons).

He started composing in 1901. In addition to some 60 songs and choral as well as organ works, his oeuvre includes the cantata Aan de Schelde (To the River Scheldt), the oratorio De 15 mysterieën van den rozekrans (The 15 Mysteries of the Rosary) and the lyrical drama Rosalinde.

On 15 April 1929 the Berchem choir in collaboration with the 'Zingende Wandelkring' (Singing Ramblers Society) St Norbert and the St Norbert Symphony performed a “Muziekfeest gewijd aan werken van Frans Verhaaren” (Musical festivity devoted to Frans Verhaaren's works).