 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Mar 24, 2020 - 9:52 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Amer Zahid
(Member)
|
The wife of composer Gerard Schurmann has announced that the composer has sadly passed away:
Today, March 24th at 12.30pm, my darling Gerard, love of my life, passed on into another existence. Distraught beyond words, I am also the luckiest person alive to have been able to share 55 years of my life with him. His thoughts and approach to life were totally unique, like no one else I ever met. He was caring of others, passionate, sometimes difficult but always wonderful, with a vital life force that’s reflected in his beautiful music. He didn’t want to go and fought hard to stay, until age and his failing heart overcame his resistance. My heart goes out to Karen, his lovely daughter and her family in the north of England. It’s tragic that he was unable to see them at this time. He kept active up to the end, sorting out scores and making arrangements for Volume 2 of his film music. During what’s left of my life, I shall devote it to fostering his music. He will always be with me. I would like to use facebook to let people know about a memorial, as soon as we are able to assemble again. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to any animal shelter. Thank you. Carolyn (Nott) Schurmann
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Mar 25, 2020 - 2:55 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Graham Watt
(Member)
|
The wife of composer Gerard Schurmann has announced that the composer has sadly passed away:
Today, March 24th at 12.30pm, my darling Gerard, love of my life, passed on into another existence. Distraught beyond words, I am also the luckiest person alive to have been able to share 55 years of my life with him. His thoughts and approach to life were totally unique, like no one else I ever met. He was caring of others, passionate, sometimes difficult but always wonderful, with a vital life force that’s reflected in his beautiful music. He didn’t want to go and fought hard to stay, until age and his failing heart overcame his resistance. My heart goes out to Karen, his lovely daughter and her family in the north of England. It’s tragic that he was unable to see them at this time. He kept active up to the end, sorting out scores and making arrangements for Volume 2 of his film music. During what’s left of my life, I shall devote it to fostering his music. He will always be with me. I would like to use facebook to let people know about a memorial, as soon as we are able to assemble again. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to any animal shelter. Thank you. Carolyn (Nott) Schurmann
Thanks for posting this, Amer - Those words from his wife are very beautiful, and unavoidably sad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trying to get feelings out of your heart and translating them into words is no easy task.
While I sit here and watch "LAWRENCE OF ARABIA" for the umpteenth time and listen to Gerard Schurmann's wonderful orchestrations, it as if viewing the film has opened a gate to all my feelings concerning the terrible loss to a dear friend.
It was LAWRENCE that led me to the opportunity to meet Mr. Schurmann one afternoon 35 odd years ago at his Hollywood Hills home.
Immediately Gerard and his wife Carolyn greeted my friend and myself warmly and spent several hours talking and drinking tea! At times the conversation went well over my head as my musical knowledge was and still is very limited. Despite that, viewing LAWRENCE I knew a terrific talent was behind the magnificent score to the film secondary to the composing of the score. Orchestration is an immensely important part of composing of which Gerard was master at, and I felt through the film which thrilled me that Saturday afternoon on April 20th 1963 that I somehow needed to acievethe impossible task of meeting the soul behind the creative force behind the score. No disrespect is intended toward Maurice Jarre. If one understood the role of orchestration it is easy to see the immense contribution Gerard made to the film.
Since that first meeting that afternoon a friendship with the Schurmann's was created and has continued to this day.
I have many happy memories of being invited to their home for dinner or tea. I often wanted to ask Gerard questions about the score to LAWRENCE knowing that the answers I seeked from my love of the score did not come clearly as I was offen unable to understand Gerard's explanations. I also had fo choose my moments carefully as Gerard wasn't always ready fo discuss the film as his experience of working on the film wasn't exactly a happy one.
I close this tribute to Gerard very much conscious of Carolyn's feelings right now as tears begin to blur my vision.
RIP Gerard.....thank you for your many years of friendship..........
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
