Brian Swager is carillon editor of THE DIAPASON.
Nunc Dimittis
From former classmate Frank Steijns, I received word that his father, Mathieu Steijns, passed away at age 75 on February 21. Mathieu Steijns was carillonneur of Maastricht, The Netherlands, from 1952 until 1997, when he was succeeded by his son Frank. Mathieu was also municipal carillonneur of Heerlen, 1969–1995. His earliest music studies were with Benoit J. Franssen, first in the boy choir at the St. Servaas Church and later as a private student. He studied piano, organ, and choral conducting at the Maastricht Conservatory. Besides his carillon posts, he was primarily known as director of the Maastricht Men’s Chorus, the chorus “Crescendo” of Amby, the Parnassus Men’s Chorus in Roermond, and the Gronsveld Oratorio Society.
As a carillonneur, he was known for building bridges, both musically and politically, between the Flemish and Dutch carillon cultures, which, in the 1950s, were diametrically opposed in many regards. He had studied with Staf Nees and Jef van Hoof at the Belgian carillon school, where he received, 50 years ago in 1958, the final diploma with distinction.
For his cultural contributions Mathieu Steijns was recognized by the Order of Orange-Nassau with a Gold Medal of Honor and with the “Trichter” medal from the city of Maastricht.
Send items for “Carillon News” to Dr. Brian Swager, c/o The Diapason, 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025; <[email protected]>. For information on the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America: GCNA, 37 Noel Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221; <www.gcna.org>.
