Sinterklaas Songs and Downloads

This week we are looking at Sinterklaas Songs, their history, and what we can learn about classical music improvisation from this vantage point. Below you can find the video and the different songs and files I refer to.

Practice your counterpoint

Original melody: With thirds written in:

Two practice files:

Fast:

Slow:

The follow excerpts are from Henk van Benthem’s book about Sinterklaas. Buy it here!

Old Sinterklaas Songs

 

12th Century Sequens for Saint Nicholas.

15th Century setting from the Glogauer Liedbuch:

17th Century setting based on the melody Engelsche Fortuyn, more well-known as Fortune my Foe. Learn to improvise on it here.

1875 version on a 1661 Lully composition.