Resonate Magazine | Australian Music Centre

Image: David Tunley  

With heavy hearts, the AMC has received news of the passing of David Tunley AM.

Born in Sydney in 1930, Tunley studied piano at the Sydney Conservatorium. He worked as a music teacher in Sydney and obtained a Bachelor of Music from Durham University before his appointment as Lecturer in Music at the University of Western Australia (UWA) in the late 1950s, where he remained for the rest of his career. There, he was eventually appointed to the Chair of Music and Headship of Department. His research has obtained him a Master of Music, Doctor of Letters, and an Honorary Doctor of Music. Maintaining an international reputation as a musicologist and a world authority in French Baroque music, he became Emeritus Professor and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in his later years.

Although he dedicated much of his time to his musicological research and activities associated with his academic position (including choral conducting), Tunley was also an accomplished composer. In 1962 he won a national Australian competition held by the Wangaratta Arts Festival for his Two Preludes for Piano, and in 1964 was awarded a prestigious scholarship from the French Government to study with Nadia Boulanger for one year. During this time, he completed his Concerto for Clarinet and Strings, which was presented at the Festival of Perth in 1966. His work Wedding Masque was also presented at the Festival of Perth years later in 1972. His works marked his love of expressive melody, colourful harmony and clear form.

Tunley's legacy trickles through the generations of Australian musicians who have studied with him through undergraduate programs and postgraduate supervision. He enriched the Perth music scene, founding the well-loved York Winter Music Festival and the Terrace Proms and was an avid audience member, until recently seen attending performances around Perth including student performances at the Conservatorium.

We celebrate David Tunley's life and contributions to Australian music.

A selection of his music and books are available in the AMC catalogue.