Jonny Heykens

Who was Jonny Heykens?

Jonny Heykens was a Dutch composer of light classical music, remembered for his jaunty Ständchen No.1 Opus 21.

Heykens was born at Groningen. He was taught violin by Eugene Ysaye at the Brussels Conservatory. He played in various orchestras before founding his own orchestra in Groningen in 1914. After the First World War he toured Europe and achieved great popularity, especially in Germany. Heykens composed pieces for his orchestra, plus songs and musical comedies. His records sold widely.

During the Second World War Heykens repeatedly expressed his admiration for Adolf Hitlers Nazism and also outed his racist views about Jews and blacks in the Dutch/German press. He died in jail shortly after the war at Hilversum and was soon forgotten in the Netherlands.

In Japan the Serenade became a popular song, and so it was selected in 1943 by NHK, The Broadcasting Corporation of Japan, as the signature tune of "The Evening Show for the Front Line", a radio programme to entertain serving Japanese soldiers and sailors. After WWII, Japan National Railways chose part of the serenade for use in its passenger cars. It is still used on some of Japan Railway trains.