Flemish composer and organist. Abraham was born about 1618, presumably in Malines; he probably was the tenth child of Philips and Margriete de Clerck. His father was treasurer and alderman of Malines and died in 1625. His mother had died in 1622. Abraham built up his career in the capital, just like his brother Philips, who became a notary. Already in 1632 Abraham was playing in the Brussels Saint-Cathleen's church, where he succeeded François Cornet as permanent organist in 1634. He remained permanent organ player until his death in 1701. He married Jenno Baert, daughter of Niclaes, and between 1645 and 1659 ten children were born. Three of them were to become musicians. Abraham's wife was very probably a sister of Peter and Niclaes Baert who held two of her children over the font in 1648 and 1650. Both godfathers can perhaps be identified as the Brussels Court singers of the same name, who are mentioned in 1637, 1641 and 1655. In 1648 Abraham became chamber organist to archduke Leopold Guilliam of Austria at the Brussels Court. In this function he replaced Johann Caspar Kerll (1627-1693), who had come from Vienna with the new governor in 1647, but left for Rome on a study-tour. According to Leopold Guilliam's court household accounts, wich run only until 1652, Abraham remained chamber organist till then. However, we may assume that he held this position untill the governor's departure in 1656. In that same year and till 1684 he is mentioned in the archives as a Court organist.(13) Since his salary was considerably higher than the other Court organist's, it may be deduced that he was the primary Court organ player. From the accounts of the Brussels Saint-Cathleen's church, we learn that the organist Abraham van den Kerckhoven died about Christmas 1701 and was succeeded by his son Jo(ann)es. The question remains wether the court and church organ player could have been one and the same person who performed both functions simultaneously.
Source: Godelieve Spiessens, quoted from an introduction to the Cocquiel-manuscript