26 October 2010
James Murdoch (1930-2010)
[Update 5 November - links added]
James Murdoch (1930-2010) passed away on his beloved island of
Bali on 25 October 2010.
James Murdoch had a distinguished international career in the
arts. He contributed to Australian music life in multiple roles,
including as music consultant, manager, administrator and writer.
Murdoch was the founding director of the Australian Music Centre
during the second half of the 1970s. He wrote several books,
including Australia's Contemporary Composers (1972), and
Peggy Glanville-Hicks - A Transposed Life (2002), and
was involved in the making of music documentaries. He was also
instrumental in Peggy Glanville-Hicks's return to Australia for
the last years of her life.
In the 1960s, in London, Murdoch managed an impressive roster of
musicians, including the composers Peter Maxwell Davies, Hans
Werner Henze and Harrison Birtwistle, the pianists Roger Woodward
and Paul Crossley, and such groups as the Pierrot Players (later
known as the Fires of London) and the Budapest Chamber
Orchestra.
In 1984 he formed the company James Murdoch & Associates
which undertook research projects, provided consultancy services
for the Australia Council, Sydney Opera House Trust and other
bodies, and managed the Australian tours of visiting musicians
and dancers.
Friends are invited to the Peggy Glanville-Hicks House to remember James Murdoch on 8 November at 6:30pm (45 Ormond Street).
Further links
James
Murdoch (AMC)
James Murdoch - biography and other resources on the Australian
National Library website
James Murdoch - obituary (The Australian 2 November
2010)
'James
Murdoch remembered' - Resonate article
© Australian Music Centre (2010) — Permission must be obtained from the AMC if you wish to reproduce this article either online or in print.
Subjects discussed by this article:
The Australian Music Centre connects people around the world to Australian composers and sound artists. By facilitating the performance, awareness and appreciation of music by these creative artists, it aims to increase their profile and the sustainability of their art form. Established in 1974, the AMC is now the leading provider of information, resources, materials and products relating to Australian new music.
Comments
Be the first to share add your thoughts and opinions in response to this article.
You must login to post a comment.