Biography

Jacobo José Maria Palm is the grandson of Jan Gerard Palm (1831-1906) who is often referred to as the "father of Curacao classical music". At the age of seven Jacobo Palm started to take lessons in music from his grandfather. Jacobo played several musical instruments such as piano, organ, violin, clarinet and flute. As an organist, Palm played for more than 50 years (1914-1968) in the pro-cathedral Santa Ana in Curacao. As a concert master, Jacobo Palm played for many years in the Curacao Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a member of the Curacao string quartet in which he played the viola. As a concert pianist Jacobo Palm accompanied well known musicians such as Dalman from Argentina, Del Orbe from Santo Domingo, Luis Palma and the cellist Bogumil Sykora. Numerous students followed lessons in music from Jacobo Palm. They originate from countries such as The Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, Venezuela, Colombia and The Netherlands. His most talented students were his own daughters Irma Rojer-Palm (violin), Elsa Debrot-Palm (piano), Nelly Jongepier (piano), and composers Wim Statius Muller (piano) and his grandson Robert Rojer (piano).

Compositions

As a composer, Jacobo Palm wrote numerous pieces for piano, but also organ music for religious services and music for songs. His compositions not only reveal his admiration for the Polish composer Chopin but also a delicate sensitivity for the polyrithmic character of Caribbean, Latin American and more in particular Curacao music. In 1981, 66 of his compositions were published.

References

• Halman, Johannes and Rojer, Robert (2008). Jan Gerard Palm: Life and Work of a Musical Patriarch in Curacao (In Dutch language). KITLV, Leiden.
• Palm, Edgar (1978). Music and musicians of the Netherlands Antilles (in Dutch language). Curacaose Drukkerij, Curacao.
• Boskaljon, Rudolph (1958). Hundred years of music life in Curacao (In Dutch language). Van Gorcum & comp. NV, Assen.