Topic: David Farquhar
He began composing music when he was aged 11, and later studied composition at Canterbury and Victoria University Colleges and privately with Douglas Lilburn.
Professor Farquhar spent his working life at Victoria University's School of Music.
In 1953, he began an important association with the New Zealand Players theatre group. His work for them included the popular dances for Ring Round the Moon and the much-lauded opera A Unicorn for Christmas.
He retired from the position of Professor of Music at the end of 1993.
Professor Farquhar told his students that "music should entertain". He was regarded as a highly accomplished craftsman able to express effectively his originality and his musical ideas in any medium.
A university colleague, Jack Body, described his work as having the defining characteristics of clarity of expression, lightness of touch, and a perennial youthfulness.
Professor Farquhar's first wife, Raydia d'Elsa, well-known as an actor, painter, sculptor and poet, died in 2001.
He is survived by his children, Julian and Kate, and second wife, Marjorie Nees.
