Remembering Gerard Schurmann (1924-2020)

Posted by Divine Art Recordings Group on
 1 May, 2020

We were saddened by the news of the passing of composer Gerard Schurmann on March 24, at the age of 96. Born in what is now Indonesia, he moved at the age of 17 to England where he served in the RAF, worked in the diplomatic service and began his long composing and conducting career. Introduced to the world of film by his close friend Alan Rawsthorne, he achieved success as a movie-score composer but also produced orchestral and chamber works of great quality. He moved to Los Angeles in 1981. Schurmann contributed his touching short piece ‘Memento’ for Divine Art’s album ‘A Garland for John McCabe’ (DDA 25166)

Stephen's Desk
Tags :

@divineartrecordingsgroup

Follow Us On Instagram
🙌 The debut single from soprano Esther Rayo and pianist Peter Grünberg is officially out now! Listen to “Al amor” from Fernando Obradors’ Canciones Clásicas Españolas, Vol. 1 on all top digital platforms today: listn.fm/estrellita [in bio] On 10 October, Métier is thrilled to present Michael Finnissy: Organ Works from acclaimed American organist Forrest Eimold! Don't miss Paul Hindmarsh's marvelous new piece in Classical Music Magazine on the importance of Britain's Brass Bands. A great primer for our new release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton! 3️⃣ Tracks from the 3 October release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton, are #nowplaying on Apple Music Classical and more! Don't miss both of our new Métier new releases on Deezer's New Classical Picks Playlist! ▶️ Listen now in our bio link. Today, Métier presents a “monumental” (The Wire) 4-disc box set from pianist Ian Pace in commanding performances of music by composer Michael Finnissy (b. 1946). On all platforms today at listn.fm/finnissypiano Métier Records is thrilled to release “Because They Have Songs” from composer Edward Cowie and featuring Gerard McChrystal and Richard Shaw! Out now on all platforms ▶️ listn.fm/becausetheyhavesongs “This monumental piano release features Michael Finnissy’s Verdi Transcriptions plus English Country-Tunes, and other compositions inspired by 19th century music. Soloist Ian Pace is a leading interpreter of Finnissy’s work, and has played his complete output for piano. Finnissy’s output is prolific, political and complex – he’s a leading late modernist.… luxuriant but challenging textures of the school often called new complexity.” —Andy Hamilton, The Wire Marvelous new MusicWeb International review for Edward Cowie: Because They Have Songs, before its release this Friday! “Buller is a composer who knows how to imbue feelings with ample warmth, colour and tension that keep the ear immersed in his sonic worlds. The musical language is largely tonal, with some roots in sacred choral traditions, yet with sufficient harmonic pungency to provide underpinnings of meaning to Leah Lax’s empathetic, urgent texts in the two extended works.… Conspirare, led by founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, respond to all of Buller’s emotional gestures with utmost cohesion and flexibility, and the soloists – basses Michael Hawes and Simon Barrad and soprano Emily Yocum Black – are first-rate.” —Donald Rosenberg, @gramophonemagazine