Fred Belloni

Frederik Hendrik Belloni (22 December 1891, Fort de Kock, now Bukittinggi, Dutch East Indies, West Sumatra – 25 April 1969) was a Dutch-East Indies composer, violinist and orchestra leader.
He was the only one in the row of East Indies composers who was interested in gamelan music and who also occupied himself with kroncong music. His music showed similarities with kroncong (usually simple, melodious, melancholic and easy appealing music pieces for orchestras with songs about the beautiful East Indies.) This music stream with Portuguese influences were often sang in Malay, but also in Dutch, French and German.
Fred Belloni moved as an eight year old to Java, first to Cilacap Regency and later to Bandung. He was born in a large family, where the family members mostly played an instrument. Their relationship was close and they found their wealth in music. One played violin or piano, the other cello, guitar or flute.
Fred chose the violin and was allowed to practice with the opposite neighbour. The first serious violin lessons he received were from his brother-in-law. A music lover estimated Fred’s talent that high that he suggested for Fred Belloni to be sent to Holland at his costs, for Fred to further develop his music skills. However Fred’s father did not allow Fred to go as his father wanted to keep his family in the East Indies together. 
During his work with the Dutch East Indies State railways, Belloni played in various small Orchestras and lead up as a Self-taught in violin-playing. He played solo violin in social club Concordia, where his impromptu themes were later further developed in small orchestras. 
When twenty two years old he had a number of Musical composition to his name and made not only name as a violinist and composer, but also as an orchestra leader he created fame. He composed, amongst others, his well known K.W.S.-Music of Marche for the ‘Queen Wilhelmina school’, Koningin Wilhelmina School. And more often he conducted larger orchestras and his name became well-known far outside Batavia, Dutch East Indies. He developed increasing attention and love for typical Javanese music instruments, like the Angklung (bamboo music instrument, the Suling (bamboo flute) and the Terwangsa (kind of zither). A main achievement was also to be able to make the Indonesian instruments, with their specific sounds, acceptable for western ears. Furthermore he reticulated the gamelan music with western music. In the Netherlands he renditioned the East Indies music with western music. 
For many (East Indies) people his compositions, like ‘A Tour Through Insulinde’ (Een tocht door Insulinde), ‘Along Java’s Beaches’ (Langs Java’s stranden), ‘Blind Beggar Woman’ (Minta-minta) and ‘The Butterfly’ (Koepoe-koepoe) (often performed with daughter Désirée), were readily heard songs. In the twenties he signed a contract with Columbia Records and made fifty records, which sold well. 
Next to music Fred Belloni did not lose sight of his social future. He went along with his brother Leo, who was transferred from Bandung to Batavia, and registered himself for an architecture study. Later he worked with the ‘Concrete Company’, Betonmaatschappij, and the PTT (Post, Telegraphy and Telephony) as deputy chief of the building services. 
To mark the twenty year existence of the PTT he wrote an anniversary march, the Anniversary-march, which was later changed into the Wigman-march for the occasion of the farewell of the then CEO, Mr. G.M. Wigman. 
Belloni married Charlotte (Nettie) Strangers in the East Indies and they had three children. Next to his long leave in the Netherlands from 1933-1939 Fred and Nettie lived in The Hague from 1950. He died in 1969 in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Category:Dutch composers
Category:Violinists
Category:Orchestra leaders
Category:1891 births
Category:1969 deaths