Bertha Tideman-Wijers facts for kids

Albertha Wilhelmina Tideman-Wijers (born January 8, 1887 – died January 1, 1976) was a talented Dutch composer. She lived in Indonesia for nearly 20 years and used sounds and ideas from Indonesian music in her own compositions. She published her music under the name Bertha Tideman-Wijers.

Early Life and Musical Training

Bertha Wijers was born in a town called Almelo in the Netherlands. When she was 13, in 1900, her family moved to Berlin, Germany. Her first music teachers were her mother and a woman named Marie Tauszky.

Studying at Music Schools

Bertha continued her music studies at well-known schools in Berlin. She learned from Max Loewengaard and Wilhelm Klatte at the Stern Conservatory. A conservatory is a special school for music or art. Later, she studied with Ernst von Dohnanyi and Richard Roessler at the Berlin Hochschule fuer Musik. Today, this school is known as the Berlin University of the Arts.

Life in Indonesia

On March 31, 1910, Bertha married Jan Tideman. They had three children: Elisabeth, Bruno, and Johanna. Jan Tideman worked for the government in the Maluku Islands in Indonesia.

Inspiration from the East

The family lived in Indonesia until 1929. This long stay deeply influenced Bertha's music. She started adding Indonesian elements to her compositions, making her work unique. Sadly, her son Bruno passed away during World War II.

Musical Achievements

Bertha Tideman-Wijers received recognition for her music. In 1959, her piece Small Suite for Carillon won a special award called the Visser-Neerlandia prize. A carillon is a musical instrument made of many bells, often found in church towers.

Preserving Her Work

Her important musical papers and notes are kept safe at the Netherlands Music Institute. This helps future generations learn about her work. Her music was published by a company called Broekmans & van Poppel.

Her Compositions

Bertha Tideman-Wijers wrote many different kinds of music. Here are some of her notable works:

Chamber Music

Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments, usually played in a smaller room or "chamber."

• Adagio en Andante Cantabile in F and D Major (for viola and piano)
• Andante Cantabile in A Major (for viola and piano)
• Small Suite for Carillon
• Three Compositions for Carillon: Menuet, Interludium, Rondo

Film Soundtracks

She also composed music for movies.

• From the Realm of Crystals
• Jan Pieter and His Sister

Orchestra Music

Orchestra music is written for a large group of musicians playing many different instruments together.

• Concertino for violin and chamber orchestra No.1
• Concertino for violin and chamber orchestra No.2
• Funeral March

Piano Music

Bertha wrote many pieces for the piano.

• Beo's Song
• Berceuse
• Eastern Impressions
• Karo-zang
• Pieces for Piano, opus 5
• Prelude and Fugue
• Seven Elegies
• Toba Fantasy
• Variations

Vocal Music

Vocal music is written for singers, sometimes with instruments.

• "Child's Talk" (for voice and piano)
• Four Dutch Songs, opus 3
• Three Songs on a South African text (for soprano voice and piano; words by Elisabeth Eybers)
• Two cantatas
• Variations on Valerius "Where that one already turns or turns" (for violin, cello and piano; words by Catullus)