In the coming months, jazz singer Hiske Oosterwijk (Mantgum, 1989) will be releasing songs from her new album “Wurden” (Words) one by one. For this she set the old lyrics of Gysbert Japicx to new music. The first issue was published on January 15: “Moarnsliet” (morning song), the second on Februari 12: “Leafde” (love).

During her master’s studies at the Conservatory in Groningen, Oosterwijk tracked down Gysbert Japicx’s lyrics. It inspired her to put “Jûnbea” to music, found on her second album. The Gysbert Japicx (Holckema) foundation heard of it and together together they thought a complete album would be a good idea. In this way the texts of Japicx, who is seen as an important founder of the Frisian language, are revived. Fonds Podiumkunsten (the Dutch performing arts fund) makes it possible to write and release (at ZenneZ Records) the new compositions.

In October, the songs are given a central place in a series of theater concerts that take place in the Broerekerk in Bolsward (the birthplace of Japicx).

Listen to “Moarnsliet” on YouTube or Spotify
Listen to “Leafde” on YouTube or Spotify

Picture: Eddy Taatgen