Royal Oude Harmonie of Eijsden

The Royal Oude Harmonie, often referred to by their abbreviation KOH or the Limburgish term De Blôw, is a music association with a concert band and percussion ensemble from Eijsden, which was founded in 1874.

Royal Oude Harmonie van Eijsden
Also known asKOH, De Blôw
Origin Netherlands, Eijsden
MembersChairman
Willy Martens
Secretary
Kevin van der Laak
Treasurer
Jo Goessens
Websitekoheijsden.nl Edit this at Wikidata

In 1949 the Oude Harmonie was the first association in Eijsden to receive the designation "Royal" or "Koninklijk" in Dutch.

In 1963, the Royal Oude Harmonie, under the direction of the then conductor Matthijs Scheffer, was promoted to the highest level: the Superior Division of the Limburgse bond van harmoniegezelschappen (Limburgish Association of Harmony Societies) in the Federatie van Katholieke Muziekbonden in Nederland (Federation of Catholic Music Associations in the Netherlands). New highlights were the musical performances delivered in 1988/1989 under the direction of conductor Jean Steutelings.[1]

In 1993, the Royal Oude Harmonie, conducted by Ben Essers, took part in the World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade and delivered a huge performance. In 1997 this result was surpassed. In 2013, the KOH took part in the WMC again, where a top score of 95.75 was achieved in the First Division Wind Band. With this point total, the KOH is the reigning Dutch champion in his division and vice world champion.

Concert band

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Concert band of the Royal Oude Harmonie van Eijsden
Origin  Netherlands, Eijsden
GenresClassical
OccupationConcert band
Years active1874-present
MembersConductor
Jacques Claessens
Websitekoheijsden.nl/harmonie-orkest

Conductors[2]

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Years Name Title
1874 - 1883 Nicolaas Petrus van Polfliet
1883 - 1890 Jean Defèsche
1890 - 1893 J. Uutterwulghe
1893 - 1931 Guustaaf Francies de Pauw
1931 - 1937 Léon Verhaeghe Honorary conductor
1937 Jean Thijssens
1938 - 1939 Maurice Motte
1939 - 1942 Jean Claessens
1942 - 1945 World War II
1945 - 1948 Maurice Motte
1948 - 1949 Pierre Bovy
1949 - 1957 Jean Wolfs
1957 - 1958 Harrie Biessen Honorary conductor
1959 Jos Diederen
1959 - 1977 Matthijs Scheffer Honorary conductor
1977 - 1989 Jean Steutelings
1989 - 2006 Ben Essers Honorary conductor
2006 - 2010 Steven Walker
2010 - present Jacques Claessens

Percussion ensemble

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Percussion ensemble of the Royal Oude Harmonie van Eijsden
Origin  Netherlands, Eijsden
GenresClassical
OccupationPercussion ensemble
Years active1949-present
MembersConductor
Henrico Stevens
Websitekoheijsden.nl/slagwerkensemble

Musical leaders

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Years Name
1949 - ???? Dhr. Geurts
???? - 1960 Jacques Janssen
1960 - 1965 André Heye
1965 - 1976 Martin Warnier
1976 - 1977 Louis Wolfs
1977 - 1991 Martin Warnier
1991 - 1996 Hans Croes
1996 - 2010 Frank Marx
2010 - present Henrico Stevens

Trivia

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In Eijsden the harmony is also known as "De Blôw", because of the blue color of the caps. This distinction is necessary in Eijsden, because there is another concert band in Eijsden, namely the Royal Harmonie Sainte Cécile Eijsden, which are called "De Roei", because of the red color of their caps.

Notes

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  1. ^ Boersma, Henk (1999). Van Aw nao Blauw - 125 jaar Koninklijke Oude Harmonie van Eijsden (in Dutch). Drukkerij De Heeg.
  2. ^ Boersma, Henk (1999). Van Aw nao Blauw - 125 jaar Koninklijke Oude Harmonie van Eijsden (in Dutch). Drukkerij De Heeg. pp. 23 till 199.
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