Vernon Griffiths

Griffiths was born in West Kirby, Cheshire, England, on 22 June 1894. He spent his childhood in Norwich attending Norwich Grammar School.{{DNZB|title=Thomas Vernon Griffiths|first= Rachael M.|last= Hawkey|id=4g21|accessdate=23 April 2017}} His father was an Anglican minister who served in poor and deprived areas.{{Cite book|last=Thomson|first=John Mansfield|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22895790|title=Biographical dictionary of New Zealand composers|date=1990|publisher=Victoria University Press|isbn=0-86473-095-0|location=Wellington [N.Z.]|pages=71–72|oclc=22895790}} He began his working life as a bank clerk before serving as an officer during World War I. Post-war, he won an organ scholarship to the University of Cambridge, graduating with a MusB in 1922.

From 1922 to 1926, Griffiths taught at schools in Somerset and Canterbury before emigrating to New Zealand to become lecturer in music at the Christchurch Teachers' Training College.

In 1933, after losing his position at the Training College due to retrenchment, he became music teacher at King Edward Technical College in Dunedin. In both positions he had fostered music making. In Christchurch he instituted group tuition for children in low cost Saturday morning classes. In Dunedin, believing that everyone should have the opportunity to make music, he began orchestras, military bands and chamber groups. All 800 students at King Edward participated in orchestras, military bands or choirs as he believed in the "regenerative power music possessed". Griffiths' programmes for school music were adopted throughout New Zealand schools and his publication, An experiment in school music making, received international recognition.

From 1936 until April 1939, Griffiths was the choirmaster and organist at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin.{{Cite book |last=Hawkey |first=Rachael M. |url=https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/4886/1/hawkey_thesis.pdf |title=Vernon Griffiths (1894-1985): His Life and Philosophy of Music Education as Demonstrated in his Collected Papers (PhD Thesis) |year=1993 |location=University of Canterbury, Christchurch |pages=104–105}}

Griffiths graduated with DMus in 1937 and became a professor of music at Canterbury University College in 1942. In 1946, he began the Addington Railway Workshops Choir, which was supported by Bob Semple, the Minister of Works.

In 1941, Griffiths compiled the sixth edition of the Dominion Song Book and contributed to later editions.{{Citation |title=The Dominion song book, number 6: twelve three-part songs for treble voices |date=1941 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/973654093 |place=Christchurch [N.Z. |publisher=Whitcombe & Tombs |language=English |oclc=973654093}}

He became professor emeritus in 1961 and received an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Canterbury in 1975.

In the 1957 Queen's Birthday Honours, Griffiths was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.{{London Gazette |issue=41091 |date=13 June 1957 |page=3412 |supp=3}} The Composers Association of New Zealand awarded him a Citation for Services to Music in 1980.

Griffiths married Daphne Spear in Christchurch in 1944 and they had five children.

He died in Christchurch on 23 November 1985, aged 91.

• Missa simplex : in D major (1944)
• Catholic hymn book : melodies harmonised for singing in two, three or four parts; with descants - arrangements (1947)
• A first year course of 12 orchestral exercises or pieces : specially intended for school orchestras and amateur instrumental music groups : orchestral exercise no. 3 : March in D : based on two French folk songs (1947)
• Super omnia ligna cedrorum : for 3 part male voice choir (1950)
• Peace and war : for mixed chorus and brass band (or mixed chorus and pianoforte, or organ) (1956)
• Recessional on 'St. George' : for organ (1956)
• Short suite for organ (1959)
• School songs : for Peter : a boy's song (1960)
• An ode of thanksgiving : for SATB chorus and string orchestra (1962)
• Meditation on Maria zu lieben (1964) - for organ

• Twenty talks to children on musical subjects : for the use of teachers and training college students (1929){{Cite book|last=Griffiths|first=Vernon|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/153851367|title=Twenty talks to children on musical subjects: for the use of teachers and training college students|date=1929|publisher=Whitcombe & Tombs|location=Auckland, N.Z.|language=English|oclc=153851367}}
• An experiment in school music making (1942){{Cite book|last=Griffiths|first=Vernon|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/500027700|title=An Experiment in School Music Making|date=1942|publisher=Council for Educational Research|location=New Zealand|language=English|oclc=500027700}}

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• [https://www.rnz.co.nz/concert/programmes/resound/audio/201789472/vernon-griffiths-peace-and-war Peace and War, 1959 recording on RNZ]

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Category:1894 births

Category:1985 deaths

Category:Academic staff of the University of Canterbury

Category:New Zealand musicians

Category:New Zealand music educators

Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:English emigrants to New Zealand