Music from New Zealand

Started by Dundonnell, Saturday 18 February 2012, 17:56

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Dundonnell

I don't think that any music from New Zealand has previously been uploaded :)

I am uploading David Farquhar's Symphony No.1(1959).

From the Sounz site:

"David Farquhar was born in Cambridge, New Zealand in 1928 but spent most of his early years in Fiji. He was educated in New Zealand and began his university studies in Christchurch before completing his degree at Victoria University in Wellington where he studied with Douglas Lilburn. He taught briefly at St Peters School, Cambridge, before going to Britain where he completed an MA at Cambridge University, and also studied composition with Benjamin Frankel at the Guildhall School of Music in London.

On his return to New Zealand he joined the staff of the Department of Music at Victoria University, and was made Professor of Music in 1976, retiring in 1993. He was the Founder-President of the Composers' Association of New Zealand in 1974 and was awarded their Citation for Services to New Zealand Music in 1984. From 1982 – 1995 he was a member of the Board of the New Zealand Composers' Foundation and is a Trustee of the Centre for New Zealand Music. In 2004 he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to music. He has written numerous orchestral, choral, stage and instrumental works, songs and music for children, and has been recognised since the 1950s as being at the forefront of New Zealand composition.

David Farquhar died in Wellington, New Zealand in 2007."

Farquhar's three symphonies have been recorded on a cd available in New Zealand but this recording is from an Onyx LP made in 1968. I remember when I bought the LP 43 years ago being much more impressed by the Douglas Lilburn Symphony No.3 on the other side and thinking the Farquhar "too modern" for my then very-Sibelian tastes ;D Listening to it again for the first time in over 30 years I think that it is a very fine symphony and not-in any way-'difficult' ;D ;D