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Jonny Heykens

Jonny Heykens, Johannes Jacobus Heijkens (24 September 1884 – 28 June 1945) was a Dutch composer of light classical music, remembered above all for his jaunty Ständchen (Serenade) No.1 Opus 21.

Heykens was born at Groningen. He was taught violin by Eugène Ysaÿe at the Brussels Conservatory. He played in various orchestras before founding his own orchestra in Groningen in 1914. After the First World War, he toured Europe and achieved great popularity, especially in Germany. Heykens composed pieces for his orchestra, plus songs and musical comedies. His records sold widely. In the Second World War, he continued touring throughout Europe. He joined the NSB, the fascist National Socialist Party of the Netherlands. He expressed racist opinions about Jews and black people and he performed at the parties of important Nazi officials. Resistance groups broadcast his famous tune with words: Sells his people and homeland for six loose cents. After the war, Heykens was arrested as a suspected collaborator. He died in prison in Hilversum several weeks later.

In Japan the Serenade became a popular song, and so it was selected in 1943 by NHK, The Broadcasting Corporation of Japan as the signature tune of "The Evening Show for the Front Line", a radio programme to entertain serving Japanese soldiers and sailors, in spite of strenuous government efforts to dispense with Western cultural influences. After WWII, Japanese National Railways (JNR) chose part of the serenade for use in its passenger cars. It is still used on some of Japan Railway (JR) trains.

Heykens' Serenade was also used during the 1940s, by Albert Sandler as the signature tune for the BBC Sunday evening radio programme "The Palm Court Orchestra at the Grand Hotel." In Germany, Heykens Serenade is the music to Loriot's comedy sketch "Schmeckt's?"

Birth and Death Data: Born September 24, 1884 (Groningen), Died June 28, 1945 (Hilversum)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

Notes: Name also appears on disc labels as Johnny Haykens.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-29192 12-in. 1/9/1924 Ständchen Victor Schrammel-Orchester Orchestra composer  
Gramophone 0EA1028 10-in. 10/17/1935 Serenade Marek Weber Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Gramophone 0EA1030 10-in. On or before 10/17/1935 Song of paradise Marek Weber Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Gramophone 0RA3128 10-in. 8/4/1938 Serenade Barnabáš von Géczy Orchester Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CA13504 10-in. between February and April 1933 Play of the butterflies Albert Sandler Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CA13505 10-in. between February and April 1933 Fairy tale Albert Sandler Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Heykens, Jonny," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116783.

Heykens, Jonny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116783.

"Heykens, Jonny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116783

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