In Memoriam:
Cyril van Lennep
There are people who come to symbolize a particular company or institution—who have become its figurehead. At the Musical Instrument Fund, that person is Theo Olof. Theo, one of the most famous Dutch violinists of the last century, was one of the fund’s founders in 1988. But besides Theo, there were others who played a major role in the fund—people who are less well-known to the public but who were just as important to the fund. This is certainly true of Cyril van Lennep.
Cyril was there from the very beginning of the Musical Instrument Fund. He joined very early on when Pieter Moerenhout founded the National Musical Instrument Fund Foundation in 1988. Alongside chairman Theo Olof, Cyril became the first vice chairman. When, years later, he had to leave the board (out of necessity, as his terms had expired), the fund didn’t want to lose Cyril—and Cyril didn’t want to leave the fund! He was therefore promptly offered a seat on the Instruments Committee, a committee that in some respects is even more important to the Musical Instrument Fund than the board itself. After Cyril had devoted his time and energy to this group for many years, he also reached his maximum term of service in this committee. History repeats itself!
Even before he had taken his last step across the threshold of the office as a member of this committee, he was asked if he would like to become a member of the Advisory Board. Fortunately for the fund, Cyril agreed once again. An added benefit of serving on this Council was that the position had no fixed term, meaning he could remain connected to the fund for the rest of his life. And so it came to pass. As a result, Cyril has been actively involved with the fund from its inception to the present day. For twenty-eight years. Because the Musical Instrument Fund was dear to him, just as Cyril was dear to the people at the fund.
However, a person’s contributions to an institution cannot be measured solely by the number of years devoted to it. It is also—and above all—about the way someone dedicates themselves. About how they do it. About what kind of person they actually are. Essential to Cyril and his relationship with the Musical Instrument Fund was, of course, the fact that Cyril loved music. He played his beautiful Bechstein grand piano himself and enjoyed listening to others perform, live in the concert hall. He never, under any circumstances, missed the annual Presentation Concert. Even last fall, when attending the concert was practically impossible, he was determined to be there in Delft. That was important to him—and not just to him, but also to the team, who treated him as a guest of honor and made sure he felt welcome.
Cyril didn’t just love music—he also loved people. No wonder, then, that he wanted to dedicate himself to enabling people to play music—in the very best way possible for them. If, during those 28 years at Het Muziekinstrumentenfonds, anything ever threatened to happen that wasn’t in the best interest of the musician in question, he fought like a lion on their behalf. Incidentally, he always did so in the style of the man who defined him so well: “every inch a gentleman.” He valued justice, openness, and respect. On the rare occasion that someone else didn’t share these values—which were so essential to him—he could be deeply hurt. Cyril believed in what was right and in the respectful way in which that right could be achieved.
Music and people were Cyril’s bread and butter. That is why he devoted himself body and soul to the Musical Instrument Fund for more than a quarter of a century. Combine his passion and enthusiasm with an enormous knowledge of music, musicians, and instruments, and add to that his wise, charming, and loving personality, and it becomes clear why the foundation never wanted to say goodbye to Cyril. And, fortunately, Cyril never wanted to say goodbye to us either.
It’s time to say goodbye. This passionate and special relationship between Cyril and the Musical Instrument Fund is now coming to an end. But he will never be forgotten. Cyril lives on in his Bechstein grand piano, which he bequeathed to the foundation and which will be added to our collection. But above all, he lives on in our hearts—for the time he gave us, for the words he spoke, and for the things he did for us. In short, for the person he was.
I’d like to say this out loud right now: aside from everything he did for the fund—and thus for so many musicians—Cyril was such a wonderful man! He was such a beautiful soul. It was such a joy to be with him. His presence made every day better. His dear wife, Marga, enjoyed every moment with him—and he with her. And everyone at the foundation cherished Cyril.
Cyril was a loving person. He was full of love for people and music. That is how we will remember him. The Musical Instrument Fund pays its deepest respects to him.
Speech delivered by Marcel Schopman at the cremation of Cyril van Lennep, August 30, 2016