Samuel Maju Samehtini

Alexander Duparc Collection

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Samuel Maju Samehtini, birth 20 MRT 1816 Middelburg, died 10 Dec 1879 Amsterdam, buried 12 Dec 1879 Zeeburg Begraafveld C Rij 9 Nr 36, occupation: Muzykmeester, componist, son of Maju Lion Samehtini and Fijtje ( Vrouwtje ) Emanuel Kunstenaar
Jewish-Italian background
Samehtini was born in Middelburg, in the province of Zeeland, on 14 March 1816, as the oldest son of the textile merchant and then music teacher Maju Lion (Meijer Levi) Samehtini and Fijtje Emanuel (Kunstenaar).[1] His family was of Jewish-Italia n origin and was well known in the Dutch music scene for about a century.[2]
The Hague period
Thanks to the scholarship from the 'Maatschappij tot Bevordering der Toonkunst', which the young Toonkunst-Department of Middelburg promoted him for, he could visit the Koninklijke Muziekschool (the present-day Royal Conservatory) in The Hague. Th is fact is commemorated in the earliest surviving composition of Samehtini, a vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment entitled 'Dankbare proeve' from 1833.[3] The piece was written when he was just 16 or 17 years old. Samuel Maju finished hi s education most successfully, being part of the Court Chapel of The Hague.
Return to Middelburg
After finishing his education, he offered his services to the people of his home town by placing an advertisement in the Middelburgsche Courant in August 1834.[4] At his house in the Hoogstraat in Middelburg, music lovers could enjoy violin-, pian o-, guitar- or singing classes.
Leeuwarden period
In 1839, he moved to Leeuwarden in the province of Friesland as a music teacher. In the Frisian capital he soon became famous both as a violinist and as a conductor and composer. He was allowed to write a festive march for the visit of King Willia m III to Leeuwarden on 29 April 1852. His work was performed by the Leeuwarden 'Muziekvereniging Crescendo Euphonia' as part of a torch lit serenade on the Gouverneursplein and was received enthusiastically by the public.[5] Samehtini's 'Leeuwarde r Polka' is most likely part of his productive Leeuwarden years.
Marriage
On 16 August 1848, Samehtini got married in Leeuwarden to stockbrokers daughter Carolina Neumark, who gave him six children. One of them was the famous horn player, conductor, and energetic composer Maurits Samehtini (1863-1943).
Amsterdam period
Samehtini moved from Leeuwarden to Amsterdam, where he continued his (main) job of music teacher. He left his home near the 'Vrouwenpoort', one of Leeuwardens city gates, in the autumn of 1854, to live in Amsterdam. Here, in the summer of 1873 , he celebrated his silver wedding anniversary. In honour of the deceased Dutch writer and linguist Jacob van Lennep (1802-1868), he wrote a funeral march for the piano.
Death
Six years after the silver wedding anniversary Samehtini died on 10 December 1879 in his home near the Rokin in Amsterdam. According to a mourning ad he died after a short illness. Two days later the funeral took place on the Jewish Cemetery 'Zeeb urg' (now part of the Flevopark). The newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad of that month mentioned him as a 'schepper van menige gelukkige compositie' ('creator of many well made compositions'). His music classes were very much appreciated.[6]
adres bij overlijden: Wijde Kapelsteeg 4
very much appreciated.[6]
Notes
1. ^ Zeeuws Archief, Middelburg, Netherlands, Civil registration Middelburg, birth certificate 18 March 1816 nr. 108.
2. ^ Scherft, 'Speurtocht', p. 132.
3. ^ Original manuscript in Zeeuws Archief, Middelburg, Netherlands, archive Koninklijke Zangvereniging Tot Oefening en Uitspanning, Middelburg (class 1522), inv.nr. 25, a 2002 performance on SoundCloud.
4. ^ Zeeuwse Bibliotheek, Middelburg, Netherlands, newspaper Middelburgsche Courant, 16 August 1834, page 2.
5. ^ Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, Netherlands, newspaper Leeuwarder Courant, 30 April 1852, page 1.
6. ^ Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, Netherlands, newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad, 21 December 1879, page 1.
Married 16 Aug 1848 Leeuwarden to:
Carolina Neumark, birth 4 Feb 1820 Leeuwarden, died 12 OKT 1891 Amsterdam, occupation: Modiste, daughter of Isac Meijer Neumark and Hester Izaks Duparc
volgens Wie Was Wie geboren vrijdag 1 Dec 1820; huwelijksaktenr.: 123

1) Fanny Samehtini, birth 5 Jun 1849 Leeuwarden, died 6 Feb 1901 Amsterdam

2) Estella Hester Samehtini, birth 20 Jul 1850 Leeuwarden, died 1899
Married 22 Aug 1872 Amsterdam to:
Jacob Marcus SAMSON, birth 22 Nov 1842 Paramaribo, died 1891, occupation: koopman, son of Marcus David SAMSON and Flora HEILBRON

3) Levenloze dochter Samehtini, birth 21 MRT 1852 Leeuwarden, died 21 MRT 1852 Leeuwarden

4) Izak Samehtini, birth 25 Aug 1853 Leeuwarden, died 4 Nov 1894 Soerabaja, occupation: slager
Married 9 MEI 1884 Soerabaja to:
Lucy RONDEAU, birth 9 Feb 1861 Soerabaja, died 3 Jul 1901 Soerabaja

5) Meijer SAMEHTINI, birth 4 Sep 1856 Amsterdam, died 17 Jul 1928 Amsterdam, occupation: logementhouder, koopman,
logementhouder, koopman, portier Bij huwelijk G.Flinckstr. 81, Amsterdam
Married 6 Jun 1888 Amsterdam (divorced 6 Jun 1888 Amsterdam Chupa N.I.H.S Rapenburg) to:
Leentje BRIL, birth 30 OKT 1858 Amsterdam, died 11 Dec 1924 Amsterdam, daughter of Barend BRIL and Rebekka OLIVIER
bij huwelijk: Valkenb.str. 191, Amsterdam

6) Bertha SAMEHTINI, birth 14 Apr 1859 Amsterdam, died 6 Jun 1942 Oostzaan
Married 15 Nov 1883 Amsterdam to:
Zijgmon Lijon PRZEDECKI, birth 23 Jan 1852 Warschau, Polen, died 1 MEI 1904 Amsterdam, occupation: agent van buitenl. huizen, son of Adam PRZEDECKI and Zofia LUBLINER

7) Maurits SAMEHTINI, birth 9 Dec 1863 Amsterdam, died 2 Apr 1943 Westerbork, buried Ned. Isrl. Begraafplaats te Diemerbrug, occupation: musicus
groote-tromslager, hoornist, musicus, dirigent van het orkest van den Frascati Overleden in Westerbork, begraven op Ned. Isrl. Begraafplaats te Diemerbrug vak U, rij 2, nr 14
Married 23 Jul 1896 Amsterdam to:
Rosina DASSI, birth 30 Nov 1873 Rotterdam, died 12 Dec 1940 Apeldoorn, daughter of Joseph DASSI and Mietje HEILBRON

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