Wyk, Arnold van (1916–1983)

South African composer. He began to learn the piano at the age of 12 and, after working in an insurance office at Cape Town, entered Stellenbosch University in 1936. In 1937 he was commissioned to write music for the centenary of the Voortrekkers and in 1938 he went to live in London, having gained the Performing Right Society's scholarship. He studied composition with Theodore Holland and piano with Harold Craxton at the Royal Academy of Music, joined the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for a short time, and later devoted himself to composition.

Works Orchestral two symphonies (1944, 1952), suite for small orchestra on African tunes Southern Cross (1943); Saudade for violin and orchestra.

Chamber string quartets, five elegies for string quartet (1941).

Other three improvisations on a Dutch folksong for piano duet.