Sim Gokkes

Simon (Sim) Gokkes (21 March 1897 in Amsterdam – 5 February 1943 in Auschwitz) was a Dutch-Jewish composer.

Gokkes was born in Amsterdam, the son of David Gokkes and Rachel Remini. As a child, he took his first singing lessons with Ben Geysel, an opera singer who ran the Rembrandt Theatre of Amsterdam. Gokkes was also a pupil of Victor Schlesinger, cantor of the Rapenburg Synagogue in Amsterdam. In 1912, Gokkes wrote his first compositions, "Ngolinu Leshabiag" and "Yigdal". He studied composition with Sem Dresden and also piano and flute at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, finishing in 1919. He then worked as an assistant director of the Netherlands Opera.

Throughout his life, Gokkes directed several choirs. In 1921, he founded the School Choir of Amsterdam. For years he was director of the Santo Serviçio, the choir of the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam. Gokkes is known as an innovator of synagogue music. His compositions relate primarily to religious themes.

Only some of his works are preserved in the Netherlands Music Institute. Sonatine, June 1939, for piano

Other works

Exodus, 1931, for mixed chorus and orchestra