WILLIAM MURDOCH (FEBRUARY 10, 1888 – SANDHURST (BENDIGO), VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 9, 1942 – HOLMBURY ST MARY, SURREY, ENGLAND)
He was born at Sandhurst (now Bendigo, Victoria), the son of Andrew Murdoch, an engineer, and his wife Annie, née Esler. At 11 years of age William began piano lessons and soon won several solo competitions. In 1903 he was awarded the first Bendigo Austral Scholarship. This entitled him to three years’ tuition at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, where he continued his studies under William Adolphus Laver, later Ormond Professor of Music. In 1906 Murdoch won the (Sir William John) Clarke Scholarship, which entitled him to three years’ tuition at the Royal College of Music, London. As the scholarship was not large enough to fully provide for the young man, it was agreed that he should receive the balance of his Austral Scholarship, and a further amount was raised from a concert and subscriptions at Bendigo. Murdoch spent four happy years at the London college and made great progress, under the guidance of Danish pianist and teacher, Frits Hartvigson. Murdoch’s first public recital at London towards the end of 1910 was very successful, and in 1912 he toured Australia with Louise Kirkby Lunn. He remained there in 1913 and toured with Dame Clara Butt and Kennerley Rumford. He was now a fine player with a sparkling technique, especially successful in his interpretation of the work of Chopin and Debussy. He toured the US and Canada during 1914, and for some time was with the band of the Grenadier Guards in France during the war. On 5 August 1915 Murdoch married Ellen Josephine Tuckfield in London. Murdoch gave recitals in Scandinavia in 1918 and in the following year began his long association with the violinist Albert Sammons, which developed into the formation of the “Chamber Music Players”. These two with Lionel Tertis and Lauri Kennedy did some remarkable ensemble playing. In 1919 he participated in the premieres of Sir Edward Elgar’s Violin Sonata in E minor and Piano Quintet in A minor. Murdoch’s first wife, Ellen Josephine Tuckfield, died; he subsequently married divorcee Dorothy Violet Lang, née Mascall, on 21 March 1921, and after she divorced him, married Antonia Dorothea Meek, née Simon, on 25 November 1925. Murdoch contributed the article on “Pianoforte Music from 1880” to A Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians, published in 1924, and in 1929 he again visited Australia and toured with Harold Williams. In 1933 Murdoch published a volume on Brahms, in which he analysed all his work for the piano, and in 1934 appeared Chopin: His Life, an interesting record which made use of much new material. He had intended to include a comprehensive study of Chopin’s works in a later volume, but this had not appeared when Murdoch died at Holmbury St Mary, Surrey, on 9 September 1942. Murdoch left a widow, two sons and two daughters.
TRACKLIST
3 Marches militaires, Op. 51, D. 733- No. 1 in D Major (Schubert-Tausig) Columbia 9273 WAX 2599, WAX 2600
3 Romanzen, Op. 28 No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor (Schumann) Columbia L2159 WAX 2612
4 Piezas españolas (Excerpts) No. 2, Cubana (de Falla) Columbia L1707 WAX 1164
4 Piezas españolas (Excerpts) No. 4, Andaluza (de Falla) Columbia D1549 WA 2614
10 Preludes, Op. 23- No. 5 in G Minor (Rachmaninoff) Columbia DX244 CAX 5614
12 Lieder von Franz Schubert, S. 558 No. 9, Ständchen von Shakespeare (After Schubert’s D. 889) Columbia D1549 WA 2843
13 Preludes, Op. 32 No. 12 in G-Sharp Minor (Rachmaninoff) Columbia 5167 WRA 5279
16 Waltzes, Op. 39 No. 15 in A-Flat Major (Version for Solo Piano) (Brahms) Columbia 9274 WAX 2592
Ballade No. 3 in A-Flat Major, Op. 47 (Chopin) Columbia L 1952 WAX 2620, WAX 2621
Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57 (Chopin) Columbia L2159 WAX 1444
Dew Fairies (Dunhill) Columbia 4948 WA 7489
Etudes, Op. 25- No. 1 in A-Flat Major ‘Aeolian Harp’ (Chopin) Columbia D1567 WA 2844
Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141 No. 3, La campanella (After Paganini’s Op. 7) (Paganini-Liszt) Columbia DB8171 WA 10358, WA 10359
Humoresques de concert, Op. 14 No. 1, Minuet in G Major (Paderewski) Columbia 9372 WAX 2594
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-Sharp Minor, S. 244 (Liszt) Columbia 9282 WAX 2597, WAX 2598
Iberia, B. 47, Book 1- No. 2, El puerto (Albeniz) Columbia L1707 WAX 1166
Intermezzo in E flat Op. 117, No. 1 (Brahms) Decca K. 698 GA. 5347 A
Kuolema, Op. 44- II. Valse triste (Arr. for Piano Solo) (Sibelius) Columbia DX314 WAX 6226
Le bal poudre, Op. 54 (Morgan) Columbia 4946 WA 7478
Legend (Markham Lee) Columbia 4948 WA 7475
Liebesträume, S. 541 No. 3, Oh Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst (After S. 298) (Liszt) Columbia 9274 WAX 2602
Miniature Scherzo (Carse) Columbia 4949 WA 7488
Morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3 II. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor ‘The Bells of Moscow’ (Rachmaninoff) Columbia L1815 WAX 1445
Morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3 II. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor ‘The Bells of Moscow’ (Rachmaninoff) Columbia DX244 CAX 5613
Nocturne Op 27, No. 1 in C sharp Minor (Chopin) K. 691 GA. 5330 B
Piano Sonatina III. Rondo Ritmico, non troppo allegro (Ireland) Columbia 4944 7485
Preludes, Book 1, L. 117 No. 5, Les collines d’Anacapri (Debussy) Columbia D1535 WA 2616
Preludes, Book 1, L. 117 No. 12, Minstrels (Debussy) Columbia 5167 WRA 5278
Preludes, Book 2, L. 123 No. 5, Bruyères (Debussy) Columbia D1535 WA 2615
Primrose Mount (Dyson) Columbia 4945 WA 7486
Reverie in B Major, Op. 86 (Bowen) Columbia 4944 WA 7479, WA 7485
Rhapsody in E flat Op. 119, No. 4 (Brahms) Decca K. 698 GA. 5346 A
Scenes of Country Life, Op. 19 No. 2, Norwegian Bridal Procession (Grieg) Columbia DX314 WAX6229
Serenata (Swinstead) Columbia 4946 WA 7477
Songs Without Words No. 22 in F Major and No. 47 in A Major (Mendelssohn) Decca K. 691 GA. 5329 A
Songs Without Words, Book 3, Op. 38 No. 6 in A-Flat Major, MWV U 119 ‘Duetto’ (Mendelssohn) Columbia 9372 WAX 2591
Songs Without Words, Book 5, Op. 62 No. 6 in A Major, MWV U 161 ‘Spring Song’ (Mendelssohn) Columbia 9274 WAX 2592
Sun and Shade (Walthew) Columbia 4949 WA 7476
The Harmonious Blacksmith (Handel) Decca K. 682 GA. 4988 A
The Rambling Sailor (Rowley) Columbia 4947 WA 7569
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 (Arr. F. Busoni for Piano Solo) (Bach – Busoni) Columbia L1815 WAX 1165
Waltz in G-Flat Major Op. 70, No.1 and Waltz in D-Flat Major Op. 64, No. 1 (Chopin) Decca K. 682 GA. 4989 B
Waltzes, Op. 34- No. 3 in F Major (Chopin) Columbia D1567 WA2845
Violin Sonata, Op.82, I. Allegro Risoluto (Elgar) with Albert Sammons (violin)
Violin Sonata, Op.82, II. Romance Andante (Elgar) with Albert Sammons (violin)
Violin Sonata, Op.82, III. Allegro non troppo (Elgar) with Albert Sammons (violin)
Columbia LX 8163-LX 8165 (matrices: CAX 7421-6)
Bourrée, Op.12 (Elgar) with Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia 9484 WAX 1889
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 ‘Pathétique’ I. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 ‘Pathétique’ II. Adagio cantabile
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 ‘Pathétique’ III. Rondo. Allegro
Columbia L1849/L1850, WRAX 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’ I. Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’ II. Andante con moto
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’ III. Allegro ma non troppo
Columbia L1906/8 WAX 2367, 2368, 2369, 2370, 2375, 2376
Sonata No. 2 in A minor (Ireland) Part 1 Allegro with Albert Sammons (violin)Columbia AX81 L 1322
Sonata No. 2 in A minor (Ireland) Part 2 Poco lento quasi Adagio Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia AX82 L 1322
Sonata No. 2 in A minor (Ireland) Part 3 Poco lento quasi Adagio Part 2 Albert Sammons (violin)Columbia AX83 L 1323
Sonata No. 2 in A minor (Ireland) Part 4 Moderato con brio Albert Sammons (violin)Columbia AX 84 L 1323
Trio In B Flat Major, Op. 97, Archduke (Beethoven) with Arthur Catterall (violin) Albert Sammons (violin)
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Part 1 Pezzo Elegiaco with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1942 AX2311
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Part 2 Pezzo Elegiaco with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1942 AX2312
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Part 3 Pezzo Elegiaco with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin)Columbia L1943 WRAX2313
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Part 4 Pezzo Elegiaco with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1943 AX2314
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Part 5 Pezzo Elegiaco concluded with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1944 AX2315
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Tema con variazione Part 1 with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1944 AX2316
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Tema con variazione Part 2 with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1945 AX2317
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Tema con variazione Part 3 with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1945 AX2318
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Tema con variazione Part 4 with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1946 AX2319
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Tema con variazione Part 5 with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1946 AX2320
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Tema con variazione Part 6 with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1947 AX2321
Trio No. 2 Op. 50 (Tchaikovsky) Tema con variazione Part 7 concluded with Arthur Catterall (violin) and Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L1947 AX2322
Violin Sonata in A (Franck) First movement, pt. 1 pt. 2 Columbia 67136-D through 67138-D AX229 AX230 AX231 AX232 AX233 AX234 AX413 AX414
Violin Sonata in A (Franck) Second movement, pt. 1 pt. 2 Albert Sammons (violin)
Violin Sonata in A (Franck) Third movement, pt. 1 pt. 2 Albert Sammons (violin)
Violin Sonata in A (Franck) Fourth movement, pt. 1 pt. 2 Albert Sammons (violin)
Violin Sonata No. 2 in G, Op. 13 (Grieg) First movement (Lento dolorosa; Allegro vivace), part 1…First movement, part 2 with Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia AX 936, AX 937
Violin Sonata No. 2 in G, Op. 13 (Grieg) Second movement (Allegretto tranquillo), part 1 with Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia AX 934
Violin Sonata No. 2 in G, Op. 13 (Grieg) Second movement, part 2 with Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia AX 935
Violin Sonata No. 2 in G, Op. 13 (Grieg) Third movement (Allegro animato), part 1 with Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia AX 938
Violin Sonata No. 2 in G, Op. 13 (Grieg) Third movement, part 2 with Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia AX 939
Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (Brahms) First movement (Allegro), part 1 part 2 with Albert Sammons (violin) Columbia L 1535 through 1537 AX 223 through AX 228
Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (Brahms) Second movement (Adagio) with Albert Sammons (violin)
Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (Brahms) Third movement (Un poco presto) with Albert Sammons (violin)
Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (Brahms) Fourth movement (Presto agitato), part 1 Fourth movement, part 2 with Albert Sammons (violin)
Columbia L 1535-1537, Matrix nrs.: AX 223-1; 224-1; 225-1; 226-1; 227-1; 228-1, Recorded: 1923/11/18
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