Abraham Alewijn

Abraham Martijnszoon Alewijn (born November 16, 1664 in Amsterdam , † October 4, 1721 in Batavia, today Jakarta ) was a lawyer , playwright , poet and songwriter .

Life

Alewijn came from the Alewijn family and was born to Martinus Alewijn (1634–1684) and Anna Hooftman (1641–1689). He studied law in Leiden and Utrecht and received his doctorate in 1685. From the 1790s he devoted himself to literary studies and music . In 1704 he married Sophia Beukers, with whom he moved into a country house in 's-Graveland . In 1707 they moved to Batavia (now Jakarta in Indonesia ), where he first worked as a merchant and later took a position as a lay judge and was admitted to the judiciary. From 1721 he was prosecutor ( Advocaat-Fiscaal ) of the Dutch East Indies .

plant

Alewijn was best known as a playwright for his frank antics and comedies . His "well-ending tragedy" in five acts Amarillis (1693) was brought into musical form in an abbreviated form with a good 70 arias by David Petersen under the title Opera or Singspiel by Amarillis . His comedies were performed in the Amsterdam City Theater for a long time. Some of his works have been published in print by Erven van Lescailje in Amsterdam.

Alewijn, together with Cornelis Sweerts, is considered to be the most important lyric writer of his time. They published a number of song books, which appeared in several new editions. Her song texts were brought into musical form by composers David Petersen, Nicolaas Ferdinand le Grand , Hendrik Anders and Servaas de Konink , among others .

Publications (selection)

Books of poetry and song books

Zede- en Harpzangen with some mengelichten , 1694
Harder's tongs , 1699
Boertige en Ernstige Minnezangen , 1705
Triomf of the Batavians , probably 1708

Plays

Amarillis, Bly-einend Treurspel , 1693

Bedrooge Woekeraar ( comedy ), 1702

Latona, of de verandering der Boeren in kikvorschen (Schwank (satire) or operetta), 1703

J. Basnage's Groot Waerelds Tafereel (translated from French), 1705

Philippyn Mr. Koppelaar ( comedy ), 1707

Beslikte Swaantje en drooge Fobert ( comedy ), 1714

De Puiterveensche Helleveeg ( comedy ), 1719

Jan Los, of de Bedrogen Oostindiesvaer ( comedy ), 1721

some pastoral games

music

Orpheus Hellevaart om Euridice, Muziekspel (Opera)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Alewijn, Abraham
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Alewijn, Abraham Martijnszoon (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Lawyer, playwright, poet and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH	November 16, 1664
PLACE OF BIRTH	Amsterdam
DATE OF DEATH	October 4, 1721
Place of death	Batavia, today Jakarta