Willem-Jan van Stijn
More than 638 times played this month
Willem-Jan van Stijn was born on a warm late summer day in Asperen. At a young age, he attended the singing evenings of Pieter Heykoop in the Great Church of Dordrecht, where he developed a deep love for those large instruments. When he was 6 years old, he began taking organ lessons from various organ teachers. He was also inspired by Klaas Jan Mulder, Willem Hendrik Zwart, Feike Asma, Jan Zwanepol, and John Propitius.
When he watched organ videos on YouTube, he came across Henriette de Bat-van Maelsaeke, Psalms with an upper voice. That truly struck him. He tried to imitate other organists until one day he spoke to an organist from a church where he had the pleasure of playing for two hours. The organist told him, 'Willem-Jan, do you know what an organist is? It’s when he can play his own pieces from memory.' So, he tried it—and indeed, it worked.
His favorite organ is in the Great or St. Martin’s Church in Zaltbommel. When he talks about this organ, he always says, 'This organ can beg so reverently, bringing with it much emotion, but it can also sound in full glory!' Willem-Jan has wishes too, one of which is to play the organ in the Great or St. Bavo Church in Haarlem and the St. Ouen in Rouen, which is not easy!
We hope that this will not bring glory to himself, but to the glory of His great Name. For we are not worthy, even though we sometimes think we deserve everything! The largest organ he has ever played is the Seiffer organ in the Marienbasilika in Kevelaer (Germany)!
