Dutch composer Erik van der Wurff dies

Pianist and composer Erik van der Wurff has passed away from cancer at the age of 69.  Van der Wurff wrote and conducted music for theater, series and musicals. He also arranged the music for feature films Van de Koele Meren des Doods and Ciske the Rat. Van der Wurff worked with Herman van Veen for more than 50 years. Besides doing solo concerts with his own work, he also accompanied Vera Mann, Gerard Cox, Robert Long and Simone Kleinsma on the piano. Van Veen wrote on his website "Fifty two years we were traveling to play somewhere. Fifty two years in which I was his singer, he was my pianist." Van der Wurff received an Edison, the Louis David prize, a Golden Harp and the Golden Nutcracker for his work. In 2009 the artist received a royal distinction in the Order of the Dutch Lion.