Credits:

Ed Spanjaard

Description:

The epic work Arnhem Psalm was commissioned by the city of Arnhem, Netherlands, in 1955 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the end of the war (and the liberation of Arnhem). Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Arnhem (part of Operation Market Garden during World War II), which took place in September 1944, the Utrecht-born poet Jan Engelman wrote an original psalm text based on Psalm 91, and Hermann Straetheil composed the music.Hermann Straateheir (19121988) was a Dutch composer, organist, and conductor who also served as conductor of the Dutch Madrigal Choir in Leiden. Strateheir himself was also affected by the Battle of Arnhem; he and his family were forcibly evacuated, abandoning the careers they had been building at the time.Tokyo M-Plus