Campenhout, François van

1779-1848

Born at Brussels, and began his career in the orchestra of the Theatre de la Monnaie, later appearing on the stage as a tenor singer. For thirty years he sang in the chief towns of Holland, Belgium, and France, making his farewell appearance at Ghent, in 1872. He composed several operas, among them, Grotius, produced at Amsterdam in 1808. He also wrote songs, choruses, and much church music. His name is chiefly associated with La Brabanc.onne, which he composed at the time of the Revolution of 1830 and which has since become the national air of Belgium. Campenhout was a pupil in singing of Plantade at The Hague, in 1807, and in harmony and composition under Navoigille, the elder, and of SaintAmand, at Amsterdam in 1808. He received his first instruction on the violin from Pauwels at Brussels.