Verreydt, Edward

Annelies Focquaert (translation: Joris Duytschaever)

Edward Verreydt received his first music lessons from his father, who was a music teacher in Diest and prided himself on a beautiful baritone voice. At the age of eight Edward was already such an accomplished pianist that he accompanied his father during the latter’s recitals. After having been privately tutored for organ and piano by Fons Verachtert, the organist of Tessenderlo, he was appointed organist of Our Lady’s Church in Diest at age fourteen. Later he studied at the Antwerp Conservatory with Jan Blockx (composition), Lodewijk Mortelmans (harmony and counterpoint) and Arthur De Hovre (organ). After graduating he was appointed organist at the St Sulpitius church (i.e. the main church) in Diest as well as succeeding his father as music teacher at the state secondary school there.

After the First World War he became a teacher in Antwerp and organist in Winterslag near Genk, eventually becoming music teacher in Leuven at the Atheneum. In that city he was famous as conductor of the Trinitas choir, regularly organizing singing evenings with Flemish songs, something he had already done before and during the war.

He was mainly renowned as a composer of songs, with a predilection for folk songs and children’s songs. Based on a text by the priest-poet August Cuppens he wrote in 1924 the cantata Slag der zilveren Helmen (Battle of the Silver Helmets), in remembrance of the battle of Halen (12 August 1914). The cantata was performed ten years after the battle in the presence of King Albert I. Besides he also composed several masses and works for organ and piano.