For the Netherlands


July 23rd is a day of mourning in the Netherlands for the victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 tragedy. My wife and I were particularly moved by this tragedy as our flight from Delhi to London a few days later was rerouted away from Ukrainian airspace - the photo was taken by me at Shey Tibetan Buddhist monastery in India. As a tribute to the victims of all nationalities I offer a link to a recording of the Dutch composer Lex van Delden's 1981 Musica di Catasto. Lex van Delden (1919-88) knew tragedy himself as a Jew in the Nazi occupied Netherlands. His music was championed by Bernard Haitink, Eugum Jochum and George Szell but, quite preposterously, remains unknown in an age of 24/7 Mahler. There is an illuminating interview with Lex van Delden's son here, and more on him in Contemporary composer's Dutch courage.

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