Peter Tahourdin
Peter Tahourdin (1928–2009) was an English-born Australian composer whose work ranged from five symphonies and chamber music to opera, ballet, choral and educational scores. A pioneer of electronic music in Australia, he established the country’s first practical university course in the field.
Peter Tahourdin (27 August 1928 – 28 July 2009) was an English-born Australian composer. He studied composition with Richard Arnell at Trinity College of Music in London; in the years that followed, concert and broadcast performances of his music were given in England, Holland and Canada.
Tahourdin came to Australia in 1964 and was appointed visiting composer to the University of Adelaide. After a year in Canada he returned to Adelaide, working as a composer, teacher and broadcaster, and in 1969 established the first practical course in electronic music in Australia at that university. In 1973 he took up a lectureship (later a senior lectureship) in composition and twentieth-century music at the University of Melbourne, which remained his base for the rest of his life. He was chairman of the Composers’ Guild of Australia in 1978–79. After he retired he devoted himself entirely to composition.
His output ranges widely: orchestral music (including five symphonies), chamber music, music for the theatre (mixed media, ballet and opera), and choral, electronic and educational scores.
Peter Tahourdin is featured on the following titles
Australian Premières, Vol. 1
None of these three Australian symphonies has ever been heard in public. Once you know them, their neglect is hard to explain. David Stanhope’s digital orchestra gives the scores a first hearing and makes their musical worth plain.