Jacob van Eyck

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Jonkheer Jacob van Eyck (ca. 1590-1657) was a Dutch musician. He was one of the best-known musicians in The Netherlands in the seventeenth century as a carillon player, expert in bell casting and tuning, organist, recorder virtuoso, and composer.

Van Eyck was born blind into a noble family in the small town of Heudsen. In 1625 he left home and became the Director of the Carillons of Utrecht. René Descartes, Isaac Beeckman and other scientists praised his knowledge of acoustics, bell casting and tuning and bell players came to Utrecht to study with him.

Jacob van Eyck composed the Der Fluyten Lust-hof (The Flute's Garden of Delights, or The Flute's Pleasure Garden). Editions of this work appeared in 1644, 1646, 1649, 1654, and 1656. Der Fluyten Lust-hof is a very extensive collection of solo pieces for the soprano recorder. The pieces are varied and include folk songs, dance tunes, church works, Psalms, and songs of the day. Even today they are quite challenging for a fine recorder player.