Gerard Schurmann's music defies easy classification and incorporates multicultural influences, such as Hungarian inflections and Chinese poetry settings, while maintaining a genuinely original voice.
Composer Biography
Gerard Schurmann, born in Java, developed a passion for music through his mother, who studied piano with Bartók, and was also influenced by local gamelan music.
Composer Biography
Gerard Schurmann volunteered for wartime flying duty in England during World War II and was asked to give piano recitals for the troops.
Composition History
One of Gerard Schurmann's early string quartets was dedicated to the exiled Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and premiered in her presence in 1943.
Composer Biography
Gerard Schurmann was a prolific composer of film music in the 1950s and '60s, including scores for 'The Long Arm', 'Dr Syn, Alias the Scarecrow', and 'Horrors of the Black Museum'.
Composition History
Gerard Schurmann's early chamber works, including two string quartets from the 1940s, were suppressed but were central to his creative output from the beginning.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Gerard Schurmann believes in communication through his music, stating, 'I believe in communication - but there must be individuality'.
