Peter van Woerden

Peter van Woerden (born January 7, 1924 in Haarlem , Netherlands ; † September 6, 1990 ), also known as Pierre van Woerden and Uncle Peter , was an evangelist , musician , author and composer . He is the author of the first German Christian children's series, Onkel Peters Kinderstunde .

Life

Born the fourth of six children to a Protestant family of teachers, Peter van Woerden grew up in Haarlem. At the age of 17 he was appointed organist to the Protestant Church in Velsen from among numerous applicants . During the occupation of the Netherlands by German troops, his career came to an abrupt end on May 10, 1942, after he had played the forbidden national anthem, the Wilhelmus , during a church service . During the following time in prison, Peter van Woerden experienced a personal conversion to the Christian faith and subsequently decided to devote his life to spreading it. So after the war he began studying theology at the Swiss Bible School Beatenberg , today the Beatenberg Seminar for Biblical Theology . From here he was sent to France and Belgium as an evangelist . He later toured the United States and Canada several times .

In Germany , Peter van Woerden was best known as a music producer for the Christian record label Frohe Nachrichten im Lied , especially as "Onkel Peter" in his children's series Onkel Peters Kinderstunde . Together with Margret Birkenfeld and her Wetzlar children's choir , he presented biblical stories and Christian songs here. As the first child-friendly concept with varied dialogues, songs and stories, the series soon developed into a children's classic within the German Christian scene. Peter van Woerden was represented as arranger and instrumentalist in numerous productions by a large number of artists from the Christian music scene from the sixties to the eighties . He was a companion of the duet Elsa & Ernst August Eicker , which he discovered and promoted in the opening program at one of his concerts, the soprano Doris Loh , the bass baritone Wilfried Mann , the child star Christiane and in particular the projects of Margret Birkenfeld with her Wetzlar choirs . He also released some solo albums on the Hammond organ .

In 1955 Peter van Woerden married the Swiss Ingeborg Dubler, who - like Danilo, one of their five children - can be heard time and again as a soloist on his records. The family lived in Geneva , but for five months a year they traveled to many countries around the world to do missionary work.

Peter van Woerden died in September 1990 at the age of 66.

Discography

Uncle Peter's children's hour

25 cm records

• To those who love God. ( Gerth Medien , 1960/1961)
• Enter through the narrow gate. (Gerth Media, 1961)
• Go into all the world. (Gerth Media, 1961)
• Ask and it will be given to you. (Gerth Medien, 1961, later reprint under a different title as Daniel in der Löwengrube )
• Serve the Lord. (Gerth Medien, 1960/1961)
• Jesus makes me rich. (Gerth Media, 1961)
• Your word is the lamp of my feet. (Gerth Media, 1961)
• Taste and see how kind the Lord is. (Gerth Medien, 1961, later reprint under a different title as Elisa )
• The word from the cross. (Gerth Medien, 1961/1962)
• So let your light shine. (Gerth Media, 1961)
• He will have mercy. (Gerth Medien, 1961, later reprint under a different title as Zacchaeus )
• Therefore watch. ( Gerth Medien , 1961/1962, publication on audio cassette 1987 within the Hörmit-Cassette series under a different title as Wenn Jesus comes again )
• A mission trip with Dr. Thiessen . (Gerth Media)
• So God loved the world: From Babylon to Bethlehem.
• Prayer and it will be given to you. (Gerth Medien, later reprint under a different title as The Feeding of the Five Thousand )
• Our faith is victory. (Gerth Medien, later reprinted under a different title as David and Goliath )
• Of real wealth. (Gerth Medien, 1962, later reprint under a different title as Rich Man and Poor Lazarus )
• Go to the ant. (Gerth Media)
• I want to guide you with my eyes. (Gerth Medien, 1963, later reprint under a different title as Der Kämmerer aus dem Mohrenland )
• Starves your enemy. (Gerth Media, 1963)
• Which the Lord loves. The Biblical Story of Joseph, Part 1. (Gerth Medien)
• Resist the devil. The Biblical Story of Joseph, Part 2. (Gerth Medien)
• Hold fast to humility. The Biblical Story of Joseph, Part 3. (Gerth Medien)
• Do not return evil for evil. The Biblical Story of Joseph, Part 4. (Gerth Medien, 1964)
• Jesus' name never faded away. (Gerth Medien, later reprint under a different title as Paulus und Silas )
• The Gospel - a God Power: Dr. Thiessen reports from his life. (Gerth Media)
• Our friends, the gypsies. (Gerth Media)
• Visit to Uncle Peter. (Gerth Media, 1964)
• Have your lust in the Lord. (Gerth Medien, 1964, later reprint under a different title as David spared Saul , publication on audio cassette in 1988 within the Hörmit-Cassette series under a different title as a miracle happens )
• Connection upwards. (Gerth Media)
• Samuel Hebich , the soul winner. ( Gerth Medien , 1965, publication on audio cassette 1990 within the Hörmit-Cassette series under a changed title as Samuel Hebich - Ein braver Missionar )
• Who sow with tears. The Biblical Story of Moses, Part 1. (Gerth Medien)
• Moses calling. The Biblical Story of Moses, Part 2. (Gerth Medien, 1965)
• The Lord will fight for you. The Biblical Story of Moses, Part 3. (Gerth Medien)
• Israel's exodus from Egypt. The Biblical Story of Moses, Part 4. (Gerth Medien)
• Sing with us! (Gerth Medien, 1965/1966, later reprint under a different title as We are the Savior's Heavenly Flowers )
• If often in storms and rain. (Gerth Medien, remix album from music tracks from the series Onkel Peters Kinderstunde , reissue under a changed title of the album Kinder singen für Kinder, which was previously released outside the series )

30 cm records

• The Bible, the book of books. ( Gerth Medien , 1966, published on audio cassette in 1988 as part of the Hörmit-Cassette series under a different title as The Precious Treasure )
• The creation. (Gerth Media, 1966)
• The day of the lord. (Gerth Media, 1967)
• Paradise lost. (Gerth Media, 1967)
• The great flood. (Gerth Medien, 1967 (?))
• Abraham. (Gerth Media, 1968)
• Abraham, part 2. (Gerth Medien, 1968)

Other children's concepts

• The wedding at Cana. Cantata. (Gerth Medien, 17 cm single record)
• Father Martin. Radio play. (Gerth Medien, 1968, 17 cm single record, 1977 unabridged takeover of the radio play as part of the LP record of the same name, compiled from various previous publications)
• Frank travels to Israel. Travel experiences, reports, songs and music from Israel. (Gerth Media, 1982)

Instrumental

• Happy message in the song, No. 45.259: Peter van Woerden plays for his little and big friends: Always keep hearts happy / Do you know how many stars there are / The great doctor is now close to us / Gladly praise the Lord / I once lived in Satan's power / Heaven is open / The wise build his house / Zacchaeus was a little man / Watch out, little eye / Trust, trust in the Lord. (Gerth Medien, single)
• Good news in the song, No. 45.260: Peter van Woerden plays for his little and big friends: God is love / thinks I know a Schäfelein / Jesus, the Lord, wants to need me / I always have to read again / Come to mine Heart / Jesus makes us shine / The best friend is in heaven / As long as my Jesus lives / When the Savior appears as King / He loved me so much. (Gerth Medien, single)
• Good news in the song, No. 45.612: You great God, when I look at the world / Nobody is ashamed / Your faithfulness is permanent / Through wonderful meadows / Jesus, go ahead / O God, be glory to you (Gerth Medien, single, with : Bill Mial - Trumpet)
• Good news in the song, No. 45.619: Just turn your gaze to Jesus / Come, dry your tears / Do you have no room for Jesus / Forward, Christ's warrior / I'll meet you at the source / God calls for a youth / When that Mr. Trumpet once sounds. (Gerth Medien, single, with: Bill Mial - trumpet)
• Take my hand, father. (Gerth Medien, 1966, with: Margret Birkenfeld - recorder and violin; Bill Mial - trumpet)
• I want to play the Lord. (Gerth Medien, 196 ?, with: Bill Mial - trumpet; Daniel Weil - horn)
• Do not fear any longer. (Gerth Medien, 1969, with: Margret Birkenfeld - recorder and violin; Bill Mial - trumpet; Knar Jambazian - piano)
• Jesus go ahead. (Gerth Medien, 1977, with: Sandra Beimfohr - cello; Margret Birkenfeld - recorder and violin; Stefan Gleitsmann - oboe and English horn; Ivo Preis - trumpet; Erich O. Schilling - trombone; Danilo van Woerden - saxophone, recorder and guitar )
• On still waters. (Gerth Media, 1980)
• O how great is my joy. ( Midnight call , compilation CD)
• Yes, then 6: Peter van Woerden. (Gerth Medien, 1996, compilation CD)

Van Woerden Family

• To Israel With Love: The Van Woerden Family Sings From The Hebrew Bible. (Gerth Media)

Collaboration projects

• Good news in the song, no. 45.263: We have a shepherd / Jesus loves me, that is true / Stand up for Jesus / Good evening, good night. (Gerth Medien, collaboration single with Derschlag children's choir )
• Good news in the song, No. 45.264: Oh, if I were just like the little birds / forest birds / gospel procession / joy bells. (Gerth Medien, collaboration single with Derschlag children's choir )
• Happy message in the song, No. 2502: Improvisation by Peter van Woerden: Allegro - Andante - Gavotte - Fantasy / From the palaces of ivory / Closer, my God, to you. (Gerth Medien, partial compilation single in collaboration with Franz Knies )
• Happy message in the song, No. 2503: Jesus walks victoriously over land and sea / Siciliano by Johann Sebastian Bach / Jesus remains my joy / Happy, even without sunshine / Ninety-nine of the sheep / Lord, stay with me. (Gerth Medien, partial compilation single in collaboration with Renate Lüsse )
• The Savior is born. (Gerth Medien, 1969, Christmas LP in collaboration with child star Christiane and musician friends Margret Birkenfeld and Gisela Birkenfeld and son Danilo van Woerden)

Works (selection)

year	title	publishing company	annotation
1960	How Jesus found me	Gerth Medien , Christian publishing house Stuttgart
1961	How Jesus called me	Gerth Medien , Christian publishing house Stuttgart
1961	How Jesus sent me	Gerth Medien , Christian publishing house Stuttgart
1962	How Jesus led me	Gerth Medien , Christian publishing house Stuttgart
1962	My way with Jesus	Gerth Medien , Christian publishing house Stuttgart	Anthology of publications from 1960 to 1962
1978	So began the adventure of my life	Gerth media

Web links

• Literature by and about Peter van Woerden in the catalog of the German National Library
• Peter van Woerden. In: "the christian song database"

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Corrie ten Boom : The Refuge: Corrie ten Boom tells from her life 1892-1945 . SCM Hänssler, Holzgerlingen 2015, ISBN 978-3-7751-5630-1 , The Secret Room ( limited preview in Google Book Search - USA ).