Dolf van der Linden
Encyclopedia
David Gysbert van der Linden (22 June 1915, Vlaardingen
- 30 January 1999, Hilversum
) was a Dutch
conductor of popular music with a reputation which extended beyond the borders of the Netherlands.
David Gijsbert van der Linden, the son of a salesman of musical instruments, was born near Rotterdam
. Before World War II, he played in some different bands as a pianist and tried his hand at arranging music for these bands. His colleagues started calling him "Dolf", because he reminded them of a former colleague with that name.
In 1945, he was asked by Dutch authorities who had arrived back from their exile in London to form an orchestra for light music. Picking musicians he knew from all over the Netherlands, he thus managed to create the Metropole Orchestra
. Famous names from these early years were Benny Behr, Sem Nijveen (both violinists), Jos Cleber (trombone) and Tonnie van Hulst (guitarist and singer). Van der Linden's professionalism and enthusiasm made sure the Metropole Orchestra built up a name for itself in the Dutch radio and TV landscape quite fast. It accompanied radio and TV shows and now and then also made some studio recordings.
In 1957, Van der Linden conducted the winning Dutch entry to the Eurovision Song Contest
, "Net als toen", sung by Corry Brokken
. In the year after, he and his orchestra accompanied the Eurovision Song Contest which was organised by Dutch TV in Hilversum. Afterwards, he was asked by, amongst others, the BBC
to do some work for them. All in all, between 1957 and 1971, Van der Linden conducted 13 Dutch Eurovision entries, amongst which two winners (in 1957 and 1959 - the latter song, "Een beetje", written by the pianist of his orchestra, Dick Schallies). Moreover, in the 1970 contest, held in Amsterdam, he was asked by RTÉ
to step in and conduct "All Kinds of Everything
" by Dana
, another winner. In 1969 he refused to go to the Eurovision Song Contest in Spain, because the Franco
regime reminded him too much of his experiences in World War II. Frans de Kok
stepped in and was lucky enough to accompany what turned out to be another winning entry, "De troubadour" by Lenny Kuhr
.
In the 1970s, Dolf van der Linden tried to rejuvenate and modernise his orchestra. In 1980, he was pensioned off. His successor was Rogier van Otterloo
. In 1999, Van der Linden died in Hilversum.
Vlaardingen
Vlaardingen is a town in South Holland in the Netherlands. It is located on the north bank of the Nieuwe Maas/Nieuwe Waterweg river at the confluence with the Oude Maas...
- 30 January 1999, Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
conductor of popular music with a reputation which extended beyond the borders of the Netherlands.
David Gijsbert van der Linden, the son of a salesman of musical instruments, was born near Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Before World War II, he played in some different bands as a pianist and tried his hand at arranging music for these bands. His colleagues started calling him "Dolf", because he reminded them of a former colleague with that name.
In 1945, he was asked by Dutch authorities who had arrived back from their exile in London to form an orchestra for light music. Picking musicians he knew from all over the Netherlands, he thus managed to create the Metropole Orchestra
Metropole Orchestra
The Metropole Orchestra is a jazz and pop orchestra based in the Netherlands, and is the largest full time ensemble of its kind in the world. A hybrid orchestra, it is a combination of jazz big band and symphony orchestra...
. Famous names from these early years were Benny Behr, Sem Nijveen (both violinists), Jos Cleber (trombone) and Tonnie van Hulst (guitarist and singer). Van der Linden's professionalism and enthusiasm made sure the Metropole Orchestra built up a name for itself in the Dutch radio and TV landscape quite fast. It accompanied radio and TV shows and now and then also made some studio recordings.
In 1957, Van der Linden conducted the winning Dutch entry to the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, "Net als toen", sung by Corry Brokken
Corry Brokken
Corry Brokken is a former Dutch singer.Brokken won the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest, representing the Netherlands singing "Net als toen"...
. In the year after, he and his orchestra accompanied the Eurovision Song Contest which was organised by Dutch TV in Hilversum. Afterwards, he was asked by, amongst others, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to do some work for them. All in all, between 1957 and 1971, Van der Linden conducted 13 Dutch Eurovision entries, amongst which two winners (in 1957 and 1959 - the latter song, "Een beetje", written by the pianist of his orchestra, Dick Schallies). Moreover, in the 1970 contest, held in Amsterdam, he was asked by RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
to step in and conduct "All Kinds of Everything
All Kinds Of Everything
"All Kinds of Everything" is a song written by Derry Lindsay and Jackie Smith which as performed by Dana won the Eurovision Song Contest 1970. "All Kinds of Everything" represented a return to the ballad form from the more energetic performances which had dominated Eurovision the previous years...
" by Dana
Dana Rosemary Scallon
Dana Rosemary Scallon , known in her singing career simply as Dana, is an Irish singer and former Member of the European Parliament ....
, another winner. In 1969 he refused to go to the Eurovision Song Contest in Spain, because the Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
regime reminded him too much of his experiences in World War II. Frans de Kok
Frans de Kok
Frans de Kok taught himself to play the piano, the accordion and the bass. In the 1940s and 1950s he played and arranged music for the Joe Andy Orchestra, which toured the Netherlands, West Germany and Switzerland with considerable success. From 1957 onwards he worked in various capacities for...
stepped in and was lucky enough to accompany what turned out to be another winning entry, "De troubadour" by Lenny Kuhr
Lenny Kuhr
Lenny Kuhr is a Dutch singer-songwriter.In 1967 she started a singing career in the Netherlands, performing songs in the French chanson tradition. In 1969 she represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest with her own composition De Troubadour...
.
In the 1970s, Dolf van der Linden tried to rejuvenate and modernise his orchestra. In 1980, he was pensioned off. His successor was Rogier van Otterloo
Rogier van Otterloo
Willem Rogier van Otterloo was a Dutch composer and conductor.-Biography:Van Otterloo was the eldest son of the conductor Willem van Otterloo. He composed several soundtracks for Dutch films and in 1980 became conductor of the Metropole Orkest for jazz music in Amsterdam...
. In 1999, Van der Linden died in Hilversum.