Marcel Worms - Hommage Wim Statius Muller (deel 1)

Three compositions by Wim Statius Muller (Curaçao, 1930-2029), played by pianist Marcel Worms: The Antillean waltzes “Ola Caribense” and “Avila Beach” and the calypso “El Curaçao”.
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.
Marcel Worms studied at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam with Hans Dercksen. After graduating in 1987, he specialized in chamber music with Hans Broekman and in 20th-century piano music with Alexandre Hrisanide. He also took lessons with Yuri Egorov and Alicia de Larrocha.
Worms has given numerous concerts in Europe, North and South America, Africa and the Middle and Far East. Since 1993, he has released 25 solo CDs. Marcel Worms is very familiar with the Latin American and Caribbean repertoire. For example, he released a CD with tangos in 2002, in 2013 a CD with music by the Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone and in 2015 the CD Danzas Caribeñas with Curaçaoan, Cuban and Venezuelan salon music. The CD Danzas Caribeñas reached the 'Classical Top 10' in the Netherlands in March 2015. This CD received rave reviews, including from Ray Picot of the Iberian and Latin American Music Society in Great Britain and in newspapers.
Recording: Paul Simon en Fred Boender
Editing: Fred Boender