The composer Gerard Schurmann has died.
Though he was born in the Dutch East Indies, to Dutch parents, Schurmann was raised in England. Following service in the RAF during WWII, he combined a career as a concert pianist with work as acting Cultural Attaché at the Netherlands Embassy in London. It was Eduard van Beinem, music director of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, who helped him attain a position as conductor at the Dutch Radio. Later, Schurmann returned to England to devote himself to composition.
In 1980, he was invited by the State Department to tour orchestras and universities in the United States. He moved here the following year, when he settled in Hollywood Hills. His concert music was championed by Lorin Maazel and Edo de Waart, among others. He also composed his share of music for film, including that for a personal favorite from my childhood, Walt Disney’s “Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow” (a.k.a. “The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh”), starring Patrick McGoohan.
Schurmann provided orchestrations for the Academy Award winning scores to “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Exodus.” He was 96 years-old.
“Leotaurus” (Variations for Piano):
“Dr. Syn”:
“Romancing the Strings,” including a pre-concert chat with the composer:
