Rudolph Palm

"Rudolph Palm" (Curacao, 11 January 1880 - Curacao, 11 September 1950) is a Curacao born composer.

Biography

Rudolph Theodorus Palm is the grandson of Jan Gerard Palm (1831-1906) who is often referred to as the "father of Curacao classical music". Like his cousin Jacobo Palm and his brother John Palm, at the age of seven Rudolph started to take lessons in music from his grandfather. Rudolph played several musical instruments such as piano, organ, saxophone, clarinet and flute. Already at the age of 19 Rudolph Palm was appointed music director of the citizen’s guard orchestra in Curaçao. As an organist, Palm played for many years in the Jewish synagogue Emanu-El (1911-1950) and Mikvé Israel (1926-1928), the Protestant Fort Church (1902-1946) and the Lodge Igualdad (1903-1950) in Curaçao. Rudolph Palm also founded in 1901 his own music ensemble "Los Dispuestos", an orchestra consisiting of about 20 musicians and some years later a sextet, calles "Los seis". Rudolph Palm also played flute in the Curacao Philharmonic Orchestra. Numerous students followed lessons in music from Rudolph Palm. His most talented students were his own sons the composers Albert Palm (1903-1958) and Edgar Palm (1905-1998) and his daughter Maria Henskes-Palm (1909-1979).

Compositions

As a composer, Rudolph Palm wrote about 90 pieces for piano, consisting of 61 waltzes, 8 marches, 5 danzas, 8 tumbas, 2 mazurkas, 1 polka, 4 danzons, 1 paso doble and also the music for some songs. Several of his compositions were recorded on LP and later also on CD.

References

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*http://books.caribseek.com/Curacao/