David Jansen
Harpsichord
About
David Jansen is a Dutch harpsichordist and organist known for his stylistic versatility and expressive musicianship across a broad repertoire spanning five centuries. Born into a family of musicians, he received his first musical training at home, focusing on singing and keyboard playing. He later continued his studies at the Utrecht Conservatory and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where he studied with, among others, Leo van Doeselaar. He further refined his artistry through masterclasses with leading figures such as Ton Koopman and Barthold Kuijken.
Vocal music has always played a central role in Jansen’s musical life. He sang for a period with Cappella Amsterdam and remains a highly sought-after accompanist for vocalists.
As a soloist, continuo player, and accompanist, Jansen performs repertoire from the past 500 years, with a particular affinity for Baroque music and the early twentieth century. He regularly collaborates with renowned ensembles, including the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Cappella Amsterdam, the Netherlands Chamber Choir, and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
His performances have taken him to major concert venues throughout the Netherlands and abroad, with appearances across Europe and South America. He has been featured at prominent festivals such as the Festival Oude Muziek, the Prinsengracht Festival, and the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht.
In addition to his work as a harpsichordist, Jansen is widely recognized as an organist and is frequently invited to perform on some of the most important historic organs in the Netherlands and beyond. His appearances include concerts on the famous Schnitger organ of the Grote Kerk in Alkmaar, the organ of the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, the organ of St. John’s Cathedral in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Schnitger organ of the Der Aa-kerk in Groningen, and the Schnitger/Hinsz organ of the Martinikerk in Groningen, among others. He is the titular organist of the monumental Ruprecht organ (1705) in the Tuindorp Church in Utrecht.
Jansen performs on a collection of his own carefully selected instruments, including a copy of a 1624 two-manual Hans Ruckers II harpsichord with grand ravalement (built by Titus Crijnen in 2005), a single-manual Flemish harpsichord with petit ravalement (Crijnen, 2006), an Italian-style harpsichord built by Hans van Rossum (1998), and a chamber organ built by Henk Klop (2006).
His performances have been widely praised by critics, who have highlighted his “great sensitivity” and “innate affinity for the instrument.” Reviewers have also described him as “an engaging soloist whose playing is as enthusiastic as it is unpretentious.”
