Michael Murray (organist)
Encyclopedia
Michael Murray is an American
-born organist
and writer
.
and the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, before private study with Marcel Dupré
in Paris
. (He was the last important student of Dupré, of whom he would later write a biography.) During the 1968-69 performance season, Murray performed the complete organ works of Bach
in a series of twelve recitals in Cleveland. He later commemorated the 150th birthday of César Franck
by playing that composer's complete organ works in 1972. He repeated the cycle for the hundredth anniversary of Franck's death (1990, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City
. Murray's performances have included nearly every major city in North America
, with numerous appearances as a soloist with major orchestras. Critics hailed Murray's rare combination of technique, thoughtfulness, and musical feeling. He has made many recordings on the Telarc label, featuring the works of Bach, Franck, Saint-Saëns
, and others.
Murray is now retired from concert performing and recording, and is the assistant organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio
.
Murray has written many articles and has published four books. His Marcel Dupré: The Work of a Master Organist (Northeastern University Press, ISBN 0-930350-65-0) is in its third printing. He has also written French Masters of the Organ (Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-07291-0) and served as editor for A Jacques Barzun Reader (HarperCollins, ISBN 0-06-093542-1). He has written a biography of Jacques Barzun
.
Murray has been awarded an honorary doctorate by The Ohio State University (2000).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Biography
Murray studied at Butler UniversityButler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
and the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, before private study with Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. (He was the last important student of Dupré, of whom he would later write a biography.) During the 1968-69 performance season, Murray performed the complete organ works of Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
in a series of twelve recitals in Cleveland. He later commemorated the 150th birthday of César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
by playing that composer's complete organ works in 1972. He repeated the cycle for the hundredth anniversary of Franck's death (1990, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Murray's performances have included nearly every major city in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, with numerous appearances as a soloist with major orchestras. Critics hailed Murray's rare combination of technique, thoughtfulness, and musical feeling. He has made many recordings on the Telarc label, featuring the works of Bach, Franck, Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
, and others.
Murray is now retired from concert performing and recording, and is the assistant organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
Murray has written many articles and has published four books. His Marcel Dupré: The Work of a Master Organist (Northeastern University Press, ISBN 0-930350-65-0) is in its third printing. He has also written French Masters of the Organ (Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-07291-0) and served as editor for A Jacques Barzun Reader (HarperCollins, ISBN 0-06-093542-1). He has written a biography of Jacques Barzun
Jacques Barzun
Jacques Martin Barzun is a French-born American historian of ideas and culture. He has written on a wide range of topics, but is perhaps best known as a philosopher of education, his Teacher in America being a strong influence on post-WWII training of schoolteachers in the United...
.
Murray has been awarded an honorary doctorate by The Ohio State University (2000).
Discography
- A Recital of Works by Bach, Messiaen, Dupre, Widor & Franck
- An Organ Blaster Sampler: The Best of Michael Murray
- Bach and Franck
- Bach at St. Bavo's: Concert from St. Bavo's Church, The Netherlands
- Bach at Zwolle
- Bach in Hildesheim
- Bach in Los Angeles (Toccata & Fugue in D minor)
- Bach Organ Blaster
- Bach: Organ Works
- Ceremonial Music for Trumpet & Organ (with Rolf Smedvig)
- Dupre, Franck & Widor
- Dupre: Symphony in G minor & Rheinberger: Organ Concerto No. 1 (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Encores a la francaise & Poulenc: Organ Concerto (with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
- Franck: The Complete Masterworks for Organ
- Jongen: Symphonie Concertante & Franck: Fantaisie in A (with the San Francisco Symphony)
- Music for Organ, Brass & Percussion (with the Empire Brass)
- Poulenc: Gloria and Concerto for Organ (with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
- Saint Saens: Symphony No. 3 and Encores a la francaise
- Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 (with the Philadelphia Orchestra)
- Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Organ (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
- The Willis Organ at Salisbury Cathedral
- The Young Bach
- Vierne: Organ Symphonies
- Works by Franck, Widor, Dupre, Bach & others