Music was Maurice Till's passion. Photo / Supplied
Maurice Till
Pianist
Died aged 84
Maurice Alfred Till of Christchurch had a respected reputation and world standing as an accompanist for many, if not all, the celebrated singers and instrumentalists performing in New Zealand. They included Mme Schwarzkopf, Victoria de los Angeles, Rita Streich and Inia Te Wiata, to name a few.
He also accompanied
a number of prominent violinists including Alfredo Campoli.
Till played in numerous concerts with national and other orchestras, gave a recital for the BBC, visited Europe and appeared many times in Australia. His first appearance as a concerto soloist came in 1967 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
He also became what the Herald's respected music critic Lin Saunders (LCMS) described in 1988 as "the doyen of New Zealand piano teachers. Out of the Till stable [at Canterbury and Otago universities] has come a string of thoroughbred performers, headed by Michael Houstoun".
Young Maurice Till started piano early, his motor engineer father offering him a chance he had missed out on himself.
From the age of five, Miss Clarice Bell gave him 12 years of what he called "sound foundation training".
Later, Ernest Empson was his tutor offering "further development of interpretation".
From St Andrews College he went on to get an MA with honours in mathematics at Canterbury University (pessimists had prophesied that life as a pianist offered ruination, bankruptcy and the dole).
But he never used his degree for teaching.
Music became his life.
Till once said an accompanist could develop a sixth sense to "tune in" in a split second to the mood being created by the artist.
"It was particularly exciting accompanying Mme Schwarzkopf to find I was with her even when she made radical changes in interpretation," he said.
Her knowing smile at the end he found much more rewarding than words of praise.
Maurice Till was predeceased by his wife Leila and is survived by their three children.
