Born in 1924 in the then Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), Gerard Schurmann grew up in England, and after serving in the Royal Air Force during the war, combined his career as a concert pianist with a diplomatic role as Cultural Attache at the Netherlands Embassy. On the recommendation of Alan Rawsthorne, Ealing Studios commissioned Schurmann for the score for the Jack Hawkins police drama 'The Long Arm' (released as 'The Third Key' in the US). More commissions followed, initially from the burgeoning British 1950s horror scene (represented here by Konga and Horrors of the Black Museum and then from mainstream cinema. 'The Ceremony,' directed by and starring Laurence Harvey was followed by 'Dr. Syn, alias The Scarecrow' and the WWII action movie 'Attack on the Iron Coast,' starring Lloyd Bridges. Rumon Gamba completes this overview with scores from Claretta, a lavish portrayal of the final days of Mussolini and his mistress Claretta Petacci; and finally the 1997 film 'The Gambler' in which Sir Michael Gambon vividly portrayed the great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Tracklist:

Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: I. Brandy Smugglers On The Beach & Chase
Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: II. Dr. Syn, Vicar Of Dymchurch
Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: III. Bates' Escape
Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: IV. Squite Banks & Family
Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: V. Flight From The King's Men
Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: VI. Ransley's Betrayal
Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: VII. Smugglers Ambushed
Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow Suite: VIII. Farewell
Konga Suite: I. Little Ape At Alay
Konga Suite: II. Sad Conclusion
Claretta Suite: I. Claretta's Dairy
Claretta Suite: II. Palazzo Venezia
Claretta Suite: III. Waltz
Claretta Suite: IV. End Titles
The Ceremony Suite: I. Jailed In Morocco
The Ceremony Suite: II. Tangiers
The Ceremony Suite: III. Father O'brian
The Ceremony Suite: IV. Sadly Musing
The Ceremony Suite: V. Escape
The Ceremony Suite: VI. Prison Revolt
Tailing The Suspect (From "The Long Arm")
Horrors Of The Black Museum Suite: I. Main Titles & London Traffic
Horrors Of The Black Museum Suite: II. Gruesome Murders
The Gambler Suite: I. Anna & Dostoyevsky
The Gambler Suite: II. Roulettenburg
The Gambler Suite: III. Gambling
The Gambler Suite: IV. Carriage Ride & Sunrise
The Gambler Suite: V. A New Beginning
Main Title (From "Attack On The Iron Coast")

UPC: 095115197929
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 7.5.19
Format: CD

Schurmann / Bbc Philharmonic / Gamba - Film Music of Gerard Schurmann (CD)