Alexander Kraft van Ermel – Hommage Wim Statius Muller
Three pieces by Wim Statius Muller (Curaçao, 1930-2019) played by his grandson pianist Alexander Kraft van Ermel:
Bo tei? (tumba);
Danza in C minor;
Danza in C sharp minor
Pianist and composer Statius Muller began piano lessons at age seven. He received a thorough piano education with Jacobo Palm, after which he was admitted at Juilliard School of music in New York City in 1949. At Juilliard he studied piano and composition with Josef Raieff where he graduated with honors in 1954. In 1955 Statius Muller began teaching piano and music history at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. In 1960, Statius Muller left his position at the University to accept a job as a civil servant in Willemstad, Curaçao, where he collaborated on the creation of a Domestic Security Service. In 1972 he transferred to the Domestic Security Service in the Netherlands for a position in the field of counter-terrorism. In 1981 he was appointed Executive Security Officer at NATO in Brussels. After his retirement in 1995, Statius Muller returned to Curaçao where he had more time for his great passion, piano playing and composing.
Statius Muller composed classical Antillean dances such Antillean waltzes, danza’s and tumba’s and was often referred as the “Chopin from Curaçao”. He remained active as a pianist and composer until his old age. In recognition of his contribution to the preservation of the musical heritage of the Caribbean islands, he was awarded a Silver Carnation in 2012. He was praised for his role as a mentor and inspirer of young musicians in the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom. As the grandson of Wim Statius Muller, Alexander Kraft van Ermel has had a special bond with Antillean music from an early age. At a young age he largely had the right to receive lessons from his grandfather in Curaçao. At the age of seventeen, Kraft van Ermel won second prize at the Scriabin competition in Paris. This competition was organized by the Conservatoire Russe. When Mikhail Voskresensky presented him with the prize, he said: ‘such great music from such a small island’! After graduating from high school, Alexander decided to pursue a piano career. To this end, he took lessons at the Utrecht Conservatory with professor Alan Weiss. Alexander can now be considered one of the most important interpreters of the music of Wim Statius Muller. Alexander regularly gives concert performances with the music of Statius Muller on the program such as during the 2nd Chopin in the City festival in Chicago; at the Nassau Music Society in the Bahamas; in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and a performance in the well-known classical music television program “Podium Witteman”. As a tribute to his grandfather, Kraft van Ermel recorded the music album Antillean heritage. This album is available on all major music streaming platforms.
Recording: Paul Simon en Fred Boender Editing: Fred Boender
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