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Dutch song book
'Kun je nog zingen, zing dan mee'
'Can you still sing, then sing along'
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The Dutch song book Kun je nog zingen, zing dan mee / Can you still sing, then sing along was collected by teachers Jan Veldkamp en Klaas de Boer (1906).
The book was in print the whole twentieth century and sold a record of roughly a million (!) copies. It's considered to be the most successful Dutch song book of the that century.
Therefore the songs collected in it, became very well-known and widespread.
The book was intended for 8 to 80 years; for singing lessons at school and to use at home around the piano; for choirs and for music schools.
Kun je nog zingen is an anthology of already 'well-known' songs of that time. The songs were all newly written (during the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century) by Dutch songwriters and composers.
The songs were intended for active singing by the people (not for performers, just to listen to). Their content is idealistic, educational and/or carries out values and standards.
The themes include: the Dutch landscape, history and sometimes patriotism; nature and seasons; to motivate children to go hiking, boating or camping (go outdoors for their health); songs about singing; and moralistic, contemplative and occasionally religious subjects.
The content was based on ideals of the Enlightenment about parenting, education and civilisation.
Another important ideal was to elevate the quality of the singing tradition. The traditional folk songs were thought not to be refined enough.
Therefore the lyrics and melodies were much more complicated than traditional folk songs. The songs were meant to be learned during singing lessons.
In 1978 14 songs were released on an album (sung by Wieteke van Dort en Willem Nijholt) and in 1999 on cd.
In 1979-80 a television series about the songs in Kun je nog zingen was broadcasted on television.
The last print of the song book Kun je nog zingen, zing dan mee sold out in 2012. Since then it's not longer in print, but many of the songs still are part of the collective memory.
The most famous songs of this iconic song book include:
• De bloempjes gingen slapen
• Er schommelt een wiegjen in 't bloeiende hout
• Ferme jongens, stoere knapen
• Heb je van de Zilveren vloot wel gehoord
• Hoe zachtkens glijdt ons bootje
• Holland, ze zeggen: je grond is zoo dras
• In een blauw geruite kiel
• In naam van Oranje, doe open de poort
• In 't groene dal, in 't stille dal
• Een karretje op een zandweg reed
• Klein vogelijn op groenen tak
• 't Knaapje zag een roosje staan
• O, schitt'rende kleuren van Nederlands vlag
• Op de groote, stille heide
• De paden op, de lanen in
• Waar de blanke top der duinen
• Wie gaat mee, gaat mee over zee
• Wordt wakker 't zonnetje is al op
• etc.
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 Didn't you find the song you were looking for?
Visit our Dutch websites with Dutch songtexts:
Over 3000 Dutch and English songtexts
of well-known songs in The Netherlands:
www.songteksten.overtuin.net
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Or search all translated songs alphabetically:
Search all Dutch songs
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