Jan Vermulst (Stiphout 30-10-1925 - Helmond 4-2-1994)

Jan Vermulst was born in 1925 at rural Stiphout, the Netherlands. After his musical education at Tilburg conservatory and his training as organ player he studied the theorie of composition with Oscar van Hemel.

Before the second Vatican councel he mainly composed sacred choral music on latin words. One of his first motet cycles has been awarded immediatly in 1954 at the Maastricht composition competition.
In the sixties the opportunity emerges to create liturgical chorals in the national language and Jan Vermulst took very quickly advantage and with great skill. Also with huge response, testified by the often performed Pope John Mass 'Paus Johannes -mis', meanwhile at the 23rd edition, the pilgrims Mass, 'Pelgrims-mis' and the Mass Christ, the eternal Word 'Christus het eeuwige Woord'.

At that time an amercan music editor invites him to compose for the american catholic church a Mass and some hymnes in the national language, resulting in a uninterrupted and fruitful cooperation. The 'People's Mass', psalms, motets and the 'Mass for Christian Unity' are today still song and with great enthusiasm.
Vermulst is invited in the United States to teach at choral and organ workshops, to act as panel member, to be on a jury and to play organ recitals, moreover at Louisville, Cincinnati, Portland and Rutherford.

The total of his religious oeuvre, national and international, amounts to more than 300 compositions, published by some ten music editors. Also his profane choral songs with very attractive folksong arrangements from many countries may not remain unmentioned.

His music practice as choirmaster and organ player at the parish of our Lady at Helmond, the Netherlands, has to a large extend contributed to the fact that most of his compositions genuinly testify of an artistic usefulness, eminence, smooth melody construction, without extreme or artificial tour de force.

Jan Vermulst was a man with a generous Burgondian streak, affable and friendly and always willing to give well-founded advices to choir and choirs masters. He dies asleep on February 4th 1994 at Helmond after a lifetime dedicated to music as composer, chois master, organ player, member of jury and reasoned music teacher.

Jan Vermulst Foundation