A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Van Bree, Johann

VAN BREE, Johann Bernhard, son of a musician, born at Amsterdam, Jan. 29, 1801. He was taught chiefly by his father, and first came before the public as a player of the violin, on which he was much renowned in Holland. In 1829 he was appointed conductor of the Felix Meritis Society of Amsterdam, and held the post with great distinction till his death Feb. 14, 1857. Van Bree was an industrious composer, and left behind him a mass of works in all the regular departments of music. In England he is known to Choral Societies by three masses for men's voices, and a cantata for St. Cecilia's Day, all published by Novellos. Van Bree was the founder (1840) of the Cecilien-Vereen of Amsterdam, which he conducted till his death, and was also head of the music school of the Society for the encouragement of music (Maatschapjj tot bevordering der Toonkunst). [App. p.807 "Add that he wrote several masses and other works beside those mentioned in the article."]

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