a Kempis, Guillaume

Hendrik Vanden Abeele (translation Hendrik Vanden Abeele)

Guillaume a Kempis was a priest and in 1690 became organist of the collegiate church of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula in Brussels, succeeding his father Joannes Florentius (Jean-Florent), who had retired on 5 August of that year. After Guillaume’s death – in 1710, although some sources give 1714 – he was succeeded by Jacques Boutmy, who was confirmed as the new organist of the collegiate church on 11 January 1711. Guillaume a Kempis belonged to a family of Flemish musicians. Besides his father Joannes Florentius, mention is also made of Nicolaus (Nicolaes), Guillaume’s grandfather, and of Thomas, his uncle.