The success of song collections such as ?? Can you still sing, then sing along ?? made it clear in the twentieth century that there was a great need for suitable song material. It is a pity that most of the bundles were so large that they had to stay at home. There should be a handy bundle, suitable to take with you, and in terms of content appropriate to the time. Leo van Gemert, known as a Franciscan Father as Father Urbanus, came up with the solution: Sing!
The songbook ‘Can you still sing, then sing along’
In 1906 saw the collection ?? Can you still sing, then sing along ?? the light, a songbook compiled by the teachers Jan Veldkamp and Klaas de Boer. The collection met the need for song material for elementary school, but also became popular outside of it. The chosen songs, arranged according to various themes, contributed to a part of education, togetherness, social and national awareness and of course civilization. The bundle, which remained popular and reprinted until 1986, did not lend itself well to use outside of a school, association building or living room. The format did not make it easy to take it with you. There should be a handy format booklet, which nevertheless contained a full selection of songs, in the most common genres and themes. It had to breathe civilization and culture, but at the same time be light-hearted.
Leo van Gemert
In Megen, south of the Maas in North Brabant, was completed on April 9, 1916 Leo van Gemert born. In 1936 he acted as Father Urbanus (OFM) in his hometown Megen with the Franciscan monks. The letters OFM stand for Order of Franciscan Monks. As a priest, Leo was sent to various parts of the country. In addition to parish work, he often actively supported youth movements, especially in the musical field. He recognized the problem that there were too few suitable songbooks for youth that you could easily take with you. A bundle for the youth had to be good, complete, but also cheap and affordable. Plus, it had to fit in a trouser or duffel bag.
Singht and de Weset Jongen
Leo collected all kinds of songs, which should be especially suitable for camping trips of the youth movement. A low price was a prerequisite, so the purchase shouldn’t be a big problem. That first collection was given the title Singht and de Weset Jongen (Sing and be merry). A collection in which texts were included, but no musical notation. You could purchase the bundle for only two quarters, so you shouldn’t expect too much from it either.
A new songbook: Zing!
The success of Singht and de Weset Jongen and the lack of a musical notation in the collection made Leo go back to work. There had to be a new and even more manageable bundle. This should not only include the text, but also the note image. The size of the small bundle should allow for transport in your pocket. The first edition of Sing! a fact. The book immediately turned out to be a resounding success. The most important requirements, good and cheap, had been met. New editions succeeded each other, in which new songs and canons were recorded. From the Dutch song to the spiritual song, and the cheerful note was not forgotten. Rave reviews appeared in all kinds of newspapers and magazines. The book turned out to be such a success that the collection was also used as a source of song material in many schools.