Johannes Helstone, born ''Nicodemus Johannes Helstone'' (11 January 1853 – 24 April 1927), was a Surinamese composer, pianist and writer. He is best known for his 1906 opera ''Het Pand der Goden''.

Biography

Helstone was born on the Moravian mission Berg en Dal on 11 January 1853. He was named Nicodemus Johannes Helstone, but used the name Johannes or Johannes Nicolaas. At the age of 14, he was sent to

Paramaribo Paramaribo (; ; nicknamed Par'bo) is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people (2012 census), almost half of Suriname' ...

for a teaching degree. His musical talents were noted by Heinrich Williger, the head teacher, who arranged that he could continue his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Leipzig. In 1894, Helstone graduated cum laude. Helstone received several offers to work abroad, but decided to return to Suriname. Musically, he was active as a composer, pianist, and organist. Professionally, Helstone was a teacher, and a church organist. In 1899, his unpublished compositions and two pianos were lost in a fire.

Musical career

In 1906, Helstone wrote the opera ''Het Pand der Goden''. The opera received positive reviews in Suriname. He translated the opera to

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

, and toured Germany, France and Austria where the opera was well received. Helstone received several job offers which he declined. Other musical works include

psalm The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived f ...

s, a mazurka brillante (1889), a

toccata Toccata (from Italian ''toccare'', literally, "to touch", with "toccata" being the action of touching) is a virtuoso piece of music typically for a keyboard or plucked string instrument featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtu ...

, ''Prinses Juliana Mars'' (1903) in honour of the birth of Princess Juliana, ''Emancipatie Mars'' (1913) and many songs in Dutch and German.

Other work

In 1903, Helstone wrote a book about the grammar of

Sranan Tongo Sranan Tongo (also Sranantongo "Surinamese tongue," Sranan, Surinaams, Surinamese, Surinamese Creole) is an English-based creole language that is spoken as a ''lingua franca'' by approximately 550,000 people in Suriname. Developed originally amo ...

, the English-based Creole spoken in Suriname. The book is slightly controversial, because Helstone encouraged the Creole population to learn

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

. In 1924 and 1925, Helstone wrote a five parts series about

proverb A proverb (from la, proverbium) is a simple and insightful, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic language. A proverbial phrase or a proverbia ...

s in Sranan Tongo. The proverbs are translated in Dutch and German with the occasional equivalent proverb in English, French, or Latin. In 1921, Helstone was co-founder of the Herrnhutter-Comité, an organisation for the interests of the Moravian Church congregation.

Death

Helstone died on 24 April 1927 at the age of 74.

Legacy

In 1944, W.A. Leeuwin made a radio program about Helstone. The broadcast ended with the observation that there were no visible signs of his presence any more. In 1948, a monument was erected on the north-side of the

Centrumkerk Centrumkerk is a church of the Dutch Reformed Church of Suriname. It is located on Kerkplein in the centre of Paramaribo. It was the State church until independence of Suriname in 1975. The Centrumkerk is a monument, and an UNESCO World Heritage ...

, because Helstone had been the organist of the church for many years. In 1959,

Trefossa Henri Frans de Ziel (15 January 1916 – 3 February 1975), working under the pen name of Trefossa, was a neoromantic writer in Dutch and Sranan Tongo from Suriname. He is best known for the Sranan Tongo stanzas of Suriname's National Anthem. Bio ...

wrote ''

God zij met ons Suriname "" () or "" ("Rise, countrymen" in Sranan Tongo) is the national anthem of Suriname. It has two verses: the first in Dutch and the second in Sranan Tongo. History The original version of the anthem was written by Cornelis Atses Hoekstra in 1893 ...

'', a new national anthem for Suriname. Originally Trefossa used a melody by Helstone. The lyrics were accepted, however the national anthem uses the 1867 melody. In 2006, the art exhibition hall of the was named after Nicodemus Johannes Helstone.

References

Bibliography

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External links

Johannes Helstone at Digital Library for Dutch Literature
(mainly in Dutch) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Helstone, Johannes 1853 births 1927 deaths People from Brokopondo District Surinamese composers Surinamese educators Surinamese male writers Surinamese musicians University of Music and Theatre Leipzig alumni Writers in Sranan Tongo