The organ works of Jacob Bijster

Jacob Bijster (1902-1958) became known primarily for his organ works. After studying at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where he graduated in piano in 1923 and obtained the Prix d’Excellence for organ in 1924, he became the organist at the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Haarlem. He was also an organ teacher and later a principal teacher at the Amsterdam Conservatory. Although he was well-known in his time, his work fell into obscurity after his death. In the 1980s and 1990s, his oeuvre was rediscovered by organist Piet van der Steen and program maker Okke Dijkhuizen. They played an important role in the reappraisal of his work, eventually leading to the publication of Bijster’s complete organ oeuvre between 2018 and 2024.

Bijster’s compositions comprise 103 works, including 27 organ pieces. His oeuvre shows a clear shift from piano to organ compositions after 1924. Bijster’s style was influenced by both Romanticism and Baroque, with elements such as chromaticism, modulations, and Baroque forms like chorale preludes and fugues. His later work reflects a neo-Baroque style, but he consistently balanced Romantic expression with more modern compositional techniques. His works, though not groundbreaking, are among the essential pieces of Dutch organ literature of the 20th century. Thanks to recent reissues, Bijster’s musical legacy is preserved in Dutch organ history.