Wagenaar, Johan (1862-1941)

Dutch composer. He wrote operas and orchestral pieces, and was noted for his orchestration. He taught at the conservatories of Utrecht and The Hague. He was the father of US composer Bernard Wagenaar.

He studied with Rijk (Richard) Hol (1825-1904) and with Heinrich von Herzogenberg in Berlin. He succeeded Hol as organist at Utrecht Cathedral in 1888 and became director of the conservatory there in 1904. He also conducted a choral society. In 1919 he became director of the Royal Conservatory at The Hague, retiring in 1937 in favour of Sem Dresden.

Works Opera The Doge of Venice (1901), El Cid (after Corneille, 1916), and Jupiter amans (1925).

Orchestral overtures to Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, Goldoni's Philosophical Princess, Kleist's Amphitryon, and Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac (1905), overture Saul and David (1906), funeral march and waltz suite for orchestra.

Choral fantasy on Dutch folk songs for male chorus and orchestra.

Other violin and piano pieces; piano pieces; songs.