Peter Richard Tahourdin (27 August 1928 – 28 July 2009) was an English-born Australian composer. His compositions range from orchestral (5 symphonies) and chamber music to choral and educational music, as well as music for the opera and ballet. Without being his principal contribution, he was one of the pioneers in the field of electronic music.
Peter Tahourdin was born in Bramdean, Hampshire in 1928. He was the second child, and only son, of Major Victor Tahourdin and Veronica Price.[1]
Tahourdin went to Wellington College, and then in 1949 began his music studies at Trinity College of Music in London with Richard Arnell.[1] He graduated in 1952 as a trumpet player[2] and in the following years worked as a performer and broadcaster in England, the Netherlands and Canada.[1]
In 1966 he spent a year studying a master's degree in electronic music at the University of Toronto in Canada.[2] On returning to Adelaide he became active as a composer, lecturer and broadcaster, and he established the first practical course in electronic music in Australia at the University of Adelaide in 1969.[1] His students there included Martin Wesley-Smith.[2]
He joined the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne in 1973, and this formed the base for the rest of his working life here.[1] He was chairman of the Composers' Guild of Australia 1978–79.
Having divorced his first wife, he married Jane Todner in 1978.[1]
He retired from the University of Melbourne in 1988 at the age of 60 to work full-time as a composer.
In 2003, Andrew Ford wrote the duo for flute and clarinet Sounds and sweet airs as a tribute to Tahourdin on his 75th birthday.[4]
Peter Tahourdin died on 28 July 2009, aged 80. He was survived by both wives, two daughters and two grandchildren.[5]
Musical style and interests
Tahourdin had wide musical interests including "chamber music, the orchestra, Indian music and music theatre",[1] but his dominant interest for most of his career was electronic music.[1] He developed a pioneering electronic studio, and began his friendship with another English-born Australian composer, Tristram Cary.[1]
Heloise and Abelard (1991, chamber opera; first performed at the 1993 Perth International Arts Festival;[2] first European production at Festival International Albert Roussel in French Flanders, 2000)
Peter Tahourdin wrote two sinfoniettas (1952, 1959);[6] and five symphonies (1960, 1969, 1979, 1987, 1994),[6] all of which except the fifth have been performed. The fifth was inspired by the genocide in Rwanda and the continuing military conflict in Cambodia.[2] The Concerto for Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra was written in 2007.[2] His Elegy for string orchestra and percussion, subtitled "A lament for a world that might have been", was written in 2005.
Chamber music
Tahourdin's chamber music includes the Clarinet Sonata (1962), the four Dialogues (1971–84), the Quartet for Strings (1982), the Raga Music series (1985–88), Music for Solo Viola (2001), and Look at the Stars for flutes, clarinet, cello and marimba (2006). There are also solo works for piano, violin, cello and bassoon.
Vocal music
His vocal music includes The Starlight Night (Gerard Manley Hopkins), Songs of Love and Fortune (1992, a setting of five poems from the Carmina Burana).,[6] as well as two cycles written for the tenor Damien Top : Chansons intimes (7 poems by Andrée Brunin for voice and harpsichord) and The Ern Malley Sequence (tenor & piano) (2007)
Electronic music
His electronic music includes Three Mobiles (1974), San Diego Canons (1983), Ern Malley – A Dramatic Testament (1976), and the Ern Malley Sequence (2007).
References
^ abcdefghijkConyngham, Barry (2009) "Composer scaled great heights: Peter Tahourdin, 1928–2009", The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 2009, p. 18
^ abcdefghAustralian Music Centre: Peter Tahourdin at 80
^"Barbara Ker Wilson obituary | Julia Eccleshare". the Guardian. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
peter, tahourdin, peter, richard, tahourdin, august, 1928, july, 2009, english, born, australian, composer, compositions, range, from, orchestral, symphonies, chamber, music, choral, educational, music, well, music, opera, ballet, without, being, principal, co. Peter Richard Tahourdin 27 August 1928 28 July 2009 was an English born Australian composer His compositions range from orchestral 5 symphonies and chamber music to choral and educational music as well as music for the opera and ballet Without being his principal contribution he was one of the pioneers in the field of electronic music Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Move to Australia and later life and career 3 Musical style and interests 4 Music 4 1 Operas 4 2 Orchestral works 4 3 Chamber music 4 4 Vocal music 4 5 Electronic music 5 References 6 SourcesEarly life and career EditPeter Tahourdin was born in Bramdean Hampshire in 1928 He was the second child and only son of Major Victor Tahourdin and Veronica Price 1 Tahourdin went to Wellington College and then in 1949 began his music studies at Trinity College of Music in London with Richard Arnell 1 He graduated in 1952 as a trumpet player 2 and in the following years worked as a performer and broadcaster in England the Netherlands and Canada 1 In 1956 he married writer and editor Barbara Ker Wilson 1 Move to Australia and later life and career EditWith his wife and two daughters Tahourdin migrated to Australia in 1964 3 He was appointed visiting composer to the University of Adelaide on the recommendation of the chief conductor of the then South Australian Symphony Orchestra Henry Krips who had conducted his 2nd Sinfonietta 2 In 1965 he was commissioned by the Australian Ballet to compose the score for Garth Welch s ballet Illyria 1965 which was produced at the 1966 Adelaide Festival 1 In 1966 he spent a year studying a master s degree in electronic music at the University of Toronto in Canada 2 On returning to Adelaide he became active as a composer lecturer and broadcaster and he established the first practical course in electronic music in Australia at the University of Adelaide in 1969 1 His students there included Martin Wesley Smith 2 He joined the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne in 1973 and this formed the base for the rest of his working life here 1 He was chairman of the Composers Guild of Australia 1978 79 Having divorced his first wife he married Jane Todner in 1978 1 He retired from the University of Melbourne in 1988 at the age of 60 to work full time as a composer In 2003 Andrew Ford wrote the duo for flute and clarinet Sounds and sweet airs as a tribute to Tahourdin on his 75th birthday 4 Peter Tahourdin died on 28 July 2009 aged 80 He was survived by both wives two daughters and two grandchildren 5 Musical style and interests EditTahourdin had wide musical interests including chamber music the orchestra Indian music and music theatre 1 but his dominant interest for most of his career was electronic music 1 He developed a pioneering electronic studio and began his friendship with another English born Australian composer Tristram Cary 1 Music EditOperas Edit Inside Information 1955 one act 6 Parrot Pie 1973 one act opera for children 6 Heloise and Abelard 1991 chamber opera first performed at the 1993 Perth International Arts Festival 2 first European production at Festival International Albert Roussel in French Flanders 2000 The Tempest 2000 based on Shakespeare s play but not yet staged 2 Orchestral works Edit Peter Tahourdin wrote two sinfoniettas 1952 1959 6 and five symphonies 1960 1969 1979 1987 1994 6 all of which except the fifth have been performed The fifth was inspired by the genocide in Rwanda and the continuing military conflict in Cambodia 2 The Concerto for Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra was written in 2007 2 His Elegy for string orchestra and percussion subtitled A lament for a world that might have been was written in 2005 Chamber music Edit Tahourdin s chamber music includes the Clarinet Sonata 1962 the four Dialogues 1971 84 the Quartet for Strings 1982 the Raga Music series 1985 88 Music for Solo Viola 2001 and Look at the Stars for flutes clarinet cello and marimba 2006 There are also solo works for piano violin cello and bassoon Vocal music Edit His vocal music includes The Starlight Night Gerard Manley Hopkins Songs of Love and Fortune 1992 a setting of five poems from the Carmina Burana 6 as well as two cycles written for the tenor Damien Top Chansons intimes 7 poems by Andree Brunin for voice and harpsichord and The Ern Malley Sequence tenor amp piano 2007 Electronic music Edit His electronic music includes Three Mobiles 1974 San Diego Canons 1983 Ern Malley A Dramatic Testament 1976 and the Ern Malley Sequence 2007 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Conyngham Barry 2009 Composer scaled great heights Peter Tahourdin 1928 2009 The Sydney Morning Herald 17 August 2009 p 18 a b c d e f g h Australian Music Centre Peter Tahourdin at 80 Barbara Ker Wilson obituary Julia Eccleshare the Guardian 12 October 2020 Retrieved 3 December 2020 Andrew Ford Death notice The Age 1 August 2009 a b c d e MWSources EditAustralian Music Centre Australian Music Centre Peter Tahourdin at 80 MW Victorian Flute Guild Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peter Tahourdin amp oldid 1025027851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
