David Farquhar, 1928 - 2007

Composer David Farquhar was born in 1928 in Cambridge, New Zealand, and studied music at Canterbury, Victoria and Cambridge (UK) Universities.

A strong advocate for New Zealand music, his long teaching career meant that he had a direct and indirect influence on hundreds of New Zealand musicians and composers.

In 1953 he joined the Music Department of Victoria University, where he was appointed Professor in 1976. He retired at the end of 1993.

Widely respected, he was founder-president of the Composers Association of New Zealand in 1974. He believed music should entertain, his body of work was extensive, and his skill and creativity as a composer is a legacy all New Zealanders can share.

More information

Our resources

• Works and recordings by David Farquhar in our catalogue
• Recordings by David Farquhar in Naxos Music Library
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• Articles about David Farquhar in Oxford Music Online
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• Classical music at the library

Websites

• Composer made enormous contribution New Zealand Herald, NZPA Tuesday May 8, 2007
• It surely is time to declare David Farquhar a genius, Ian Dando, New Zealand Listener, November 1-7 2003 Vol 191 No 3312
• David Farquhar biography at Trust Records, The HRL Morrison Music Trust
• David Farquhar biography and recordings at the Centre for New Zealand Music SOUNZ
• Composers Association of New Zealand