Het Geuzenliedboek - Kuiper, E. T.; Leendertz, P. (Zutphen Thieme, 1924)
In the 16th century, the Calvinist north fought the Eighty Years' War against Catholic Spain. The rebellious nobles in the Netherlands and their allies called themselves Beggars. In popular culture, songs arose that outlined historical developments. They also had a comforting or plaintive content, glorified the heroic deeds of the Beggars, sometimes had a more spiritual inspiration, or served to taunt or mock the opponent. An example of the latter is De Clage vanden inquisitor, meester Pieter Titelmanus.
Some poets of geuzen songs are known: Arent Dircksz. Vos, parish priest in De Lier; Joris Sylvanis, pastor in Antwerp; Jan Cooman of Delft; Pieter Sterlinckx of Heenvliet; Willem van Haecht; Laurens Jacobsz and Adriaen Valerius.
The best-known geuzen song today is the Wilhelmus.
Keywords: 20th Century (1901-2000); Music history; Song; Eighty Years' War (1568-1648); Contrafactum; Netherlands; boekoplage; op de wijze van; op de wijze van; Vondel; rederijkers; bruinsmadelijn; den lustelicken mey; geuzenliederen; geuzenliederen; passamezzo; retrograde; Suzanne un jour; Von der Fortuna; Wilhelmus; Wilhelmus