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Composer David Farquhar made an enormous contribution to New Zealand music, Arts and Culture Minister Judith Tizard says.
Farquhar, a composer and former professor of music at Victoria University, died this morning after a long illness at the age of 79.
Ms Tizard said Faquhar had a profound influence on the education of a significant number of New Zealand musicians and composers.
"David made an enormous contribution to New Zealand music -- as a highly valued Professor, a committed advocate of New Zealand music and a prolific and celebrated New Zealand composer."
She extended her sympathy to David's family and friends.
Farquhar was born in Cambridge, New Zealand, in 1928 and educated at Canterbury and Victoria Universities before continuing his studies at Cambridge University and the London Guildhall in England.
He told his students that "music should entertain" and began composing at the age of 11, Radio New Zealand reported.
In 1953 he joined the music department of Victoria University and was appointed professor in 1976, retiring in 1993.
He was a committed advocate of New Zealand music and was founder-president of the Composers' Association of New Zealand.
In 2004 he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to music.
Composer Jack Body said Mr Farquhar, his composer colleague, friend and some-time boss was the last of his generation of composers.
"[His death] was expected. He had been seriously ill for a month or two," he told NZPA.
Mr Farquhar was one of New Zealand's most prolific composers, and perhaps best known for his Dance Suite: Ring around the Moon, which he wrote in 1957.
"He was the last of his generation of composers. It is the end of an era. Of that generation, the first was David Farquhar, then the others younger than him. All the younger ones have gone, and now David," Mr Body said.
"As a composer, he had worked right through from the 40s, and he was still composing right through to the end.
"As a teacher, he taught for 40 years, so many, many musicians passed through his hands," he said.
Mr Farquhar is survived by his second wife and two children.
-NZPA
