Willem Landre

Guillaume Louis Frederic “Willem” Landre was born on 12 June 1874 in Amsterdam (Netherlands). Although born in Amsterdam, he spent most of his childhood and youth in Haarlem. During his school years he already demonstrated a pronounced musical talent and began composing songs at an early age; the earliest surviving examples date from 1887. Because he had been born with malformed limbs, a professional career as a performing musician was not considered possible, although he nevertheless learned to play the piano sufficiently well to pursue formal studies in composition. After completing his school examinations, he prepared for a musical career by studying composition with the Amsterdam composer and pedagogue Bernard Zweers.
In 1898 Willem Landre became music reporter for the "Oprechte Haarlemsche Courant" in Haarlem. In 1901 he moved to The Hague as music editor of the "Nieuwe Courant". From 1906 until his retirement in 1937 he worked in Rotterdam as music editor of the "Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant".
Alongside his journalistic work, Willem Landre was active as teacher, editor, and composer. In 1913 he became co-editor of the journal "Het Muziekcollege", which later merged with "Caecilia". In 1917 he was appointed chief professor of music theory, composition, and music history at the Conservatory of Music in Rotterdam. After his retirement he continued editorial work until 1944.
In 1934, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, Willem Landre was honoured at a celebration in the Rotterdam Kunstkring, where printed editions of several of his major works were presented to him. The Concertgebouworkest performed his music nineteen times, especially the orchestral Nocturne, which was conducted five times by Willem Mengelberg. Several Dutch cities later named streets after him.
Willem Landre’s catalogue includes operas, orchestral works, chamber music, piano works, songs, and choral compositions. Among his best-known works are the operas "De Roos van Dekama" and "Beatrijs"; the orchestral works Nocturne, In memoriam matris, and Drie orkeststukken; the Romantisch Pianoconcert; the Requiem in memoriam uxoris for soloists, choir, and orchestra; as well as various male-choir works and songs. He also composed chamber music including a Piano Quintet, Piano Trio, String Quartet, and Sonata for violoncello and piano.
Willem Landre died suddenly on 1 January 1948 at the home of his daughter in Eindhoven (Netherlands).

In my possession is a small piano composition titled "Romance" by Willem Landre. The manuscript is not dated. But is has a dedicated "aan Mieneke" and "voor Lillylyli"[?].