“Dad, I want bread!"

Jack Dinkhuysen : the passage of a Dutch conductor through Santa Catarina (1931-1935)

Abstract

With the advances of North Santa Catarina’s entertainment structures in the beginning of the 20th century, many musicians were attracted to its countryside cities, collaborating for the development of the local artistic scene. In this article we aim at sheding light on the life and work of one of these personalities: Jack Dinkhuysen (1902-1975), who worked in Santa Catarina between 1931 and 1935.  The Duch maestro lived in the city of Canoinhas, where he formed a musical society, two jazz bands, produced an art festival and taught piano and other instruments. Despite his important contribution, Jack Dinkhuysen had not yet been mentioned in the various publications of musicology in Santa Catarina, a fact that also happens with many musicians who had important participations in the state but who, for different reasons, did not enter in the history. For this investigation we researched in periodicals, with emphasis on the newspaper “Avante!” (1930-1935), as well in publications from Rio Grande do Sul, official documents and interviews. This essay on Jack Dinkhuysen should be understood as a starting point that can lead to a more in-depth discussion.

Keywords: Jack Dinkhuysen. Jazz bands. Traveling musicians. Musicologie. History of Music in Santa Catarina.