Josina van Aerssen

Full biography Josina van Aerssen

Josina van Aerssen was a Dutch composer and musician who lived during the 17th century. She was born in 1637 in a noble family in Overijssel, in the eastern part of the Netherlands. Josina received a musical education from an early age, and she showed remarkable talent as a composer and performer.

Despite the limitations imposed on women in those times, Josina was able to pursue her musical career and gained a reputation as a skilled composer. Her music was praised for its intricate melodies, harmonies, and use of different instruments. She wrote chamber music, orchestral pieces, and vocal works, both secular and religious.

Josina was a trailblazer, as there were very few women composers in Europe during the seventeenth century. She was known to have a preference for Italian music, which is evident in her compositions. Her works were often performed during concerts at the court of William III of Orange in The Hague, where she lived for most of her life.

Josina van Aerssen passed away in 1687, leaving behind a small but impressive body of work. Her music remains an inspiration to many, and her contributions to the development of Dutch Baroque music are still recognized. Today, her music is being rediscovered and appreciated by a new generation of music lovers and scholars.