The Film Music of Gerard Schurmann

by Rumon Gamba, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Overview

Film music is almost always identified with American composers, thanks to the steady stream of European emigres who took advantage of the growing Hollywood film industry to flee their troubled home countries in the 1930s. Name artists in the European sphere are rarer, and for that reason alone, The Film Music of Gerard Schurmann, is well worth a listen. Schurmann was a Dutch composer born in what is now Indonesia. Even after the American example was set, European film scores were often written by general composers of orchestral music (Vaughan Williams and Shostakovich are two famous examples). Schurmann was one of the first true film composers in Britain, and his career began when Alan Rawsthorne gave it a boost. Rawsthorne had been commissioned to write a film score, he turned part of it over to Schurmann, asked the producers what they thought of his work, and revealed the true composer when they expressed approval. Most of the films here remain obscure, at least outside Britain, and aside from The Gambler (1997), all are from the 1950s and 1960s. Stars include Patrick McGoohan (of The Prisoner) in Dr. Syn, alias The Scarecrow. Schurmann is no Bernard Herrmann, but the strength of his scores lies in his imaginative orchestration; outside of film music he sometimes worked as an orchestrator. Sample the second movement of the suite from The Ceremony, a slowly moving kaleidoscope of unusual instrumental sounds including those of treble and bass recorders. The pieces are all suites, presumably made by the composer, and any of them would enliven an orchestral concert. They get a spirited performance here from the BBC Philharmonic under Rumon Gamba, and impressive sound from Chandos, who are to be commended for the ongoing originality of their "Chandos Movies" series. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	07/05/2019
Label:	Chandos
UPC:	0095115197929
Rank:	147169

Tracks

1. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~1. Brandy Smugglers on the Beach, and Chase. Poco allegro - Pi¿¿ mosso - Doppio pi¿¿ lento
2. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~2. Dr Syn, Vicar of Dymchurch. Moderato - Adagio - Tempo I
3. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~3. Bates' Escape. Allegro molto - Meno mosso - Doppio meno - Allargando
4. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~4. Squire Banks and His Family. Adagio - Pi¿¿ mosso
5. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~5. Flight from the King's Men. Allegro con fuoco
6. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~6. Ransley's Betrayal. Adagio - Poco pi¿¿ mosso - Pi¿¿ mosso
7. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~7. Smugglers Ambushed. Allegro - Pi¿¿ mosso - Subito meno mosso
8. Dr Syn, alias The Scarecrow, Suite for Orchestra~8. Farewell. Moderato - Adagio - Allargando molto
9. Konga, Suite for Orchestra~1. Little Ape at Play. Allegro moderato
10. Konga, Suite for Orchestra~2. A Sad Conclusion. Sostenuto - Subito meno mosso - Teneramente - Allargando molto
11. Claretta, Suite for Orchestra~1. Claretta's Diary. Tranquillo
12. Claretta, Suite for Orchestra~2. Palazzo Venezia. Largo - Pi¿¿ mosso
13. Claretta, Suite for Orchestra~3. Waltz. Tempo di Valse
14. Claretta, Suite for Orchestra~4. End Titles. Moderato - Poco movimento - Moderato
15. The Ceremony, Suite for Orchestra~1. Jailed in Morocco. Allegro - Adagio - Tempo I - Doppio meno mosso
16. The Ceremony, Suite for Orchestra~2. Tangiers. Moderato - Pi¿¿ lento
17. The Ceremony, Suite for Orchestra~3. Father O'Brian. Andante
18. The Ceremony, Suite for Orchestra~4. Sadly Musing. [ ]
19. The Ceremony, Suite for Orchestra~5. Escape. [ ]
20. The Ceremony, Suite for Orchestra~6. Prison Revolt. [ ] - Doppio movimento - Presto - Meno mosso
21. Tailing the Suspect from The Long Arm for Orchestra
22. Horrors of the Black Museum, Suite for Orchestra~1. Main Titles and London Traffic. Allegro - Meno mosso
23. Horrors of the Black Museum, Suite for Orchestra~2. Gruesome Murders. Ferocemente - Doppio meno - Doppio pi¿¿
24. The Gambler, Suite for Orchestra~1. Anna and Dostoyevsky. Adagio - Meno lento
25. The Gambler, Suite for Orchestra~2. Roulettenbourg. Romanza - Meno mosso
26. The Gambler, Suite for Orchestra~3. Gambling. [ ] - Allegro
27. The Gambler, Suite for Orchestra~4. Carriage Ride and Sunrise. [ ]
28. The Gambler, Suite for Orchestra~5. A New Beginning. Adagio - Romanza - Moderato - Tempo di Romanza - Adagio
29. Main Title from Attack on the Iron Coast for Orchestra

Album Credits

Performance Credits

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Rumon Gamba   Primary Artist,Conductor
Anthony Robb   Recorder,Indian Flute

Technical Credits

Jonathan Cooper   Editing
Stephen Rinker   Engineer
Stephen Pickard   Photography
Gerard Schurmann   Composer,Photo Courtesy
Yuri Torchinsky   Leader
Sue Shortridge   A&R
Sussie Ahlburg   Photography
Mike George   Recording Producer
Carolyn Nott   Liner Notes
Philip Halliwell   Assistant Engineer
Finn S. Gundersen   Booklet Editor