Mr. Murgatroyd studied clarinet and piano at the University of Alberta, where he received his BMus in piano in 1965. He later earned the equivalent of a master's degree via independent study.

Among his honors are the Red Deer, Alberta Centennial Award (1967), the Provincial Crowsnest Pass Music Award in Composition (1981, for Concert Overture, Op. 83) and the Red Deer and District Allied Arts Council Celebration of the Arts Award (1983, for outstanding accomplishment in music as a composer and performer).

As a pianist, he has worked as an accompanist at the Kiwanis Music Festivals in Red Deer since 1968. As an organist, he worked at Trinity Chapel on the Penhold Air Base in Alberta from 1978–91 and has occasionally played at Gaetz Memorial United Church and other churches in Alberta since 1991.

Mr. Murgatroyd is also active in other positions. He served as treasurer of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers' Association and as a public-relations officer for the Red Deer Chamber Music Society.

He taught as an assistant and served as accompanist-in-residence at various Catholic schools in Bonnyville, Alberta from 1965–68. He has taught piano privately since 1968. He worked as a band instructor at four Catholic schools in Alberta from 1973–78 and as a recorder instructor at CFB Penhold in Alberta from 1975–78.

Alberta Keys and Berandol publish some of his music.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Street address: Mr. Vernon Murgatroyd, 5401-39th St., Red Deer, AB T4N 1A1, Canada

Telephone: 403 346 4753

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

STAGE: We will not speak of yesterday (text by Judith E. Linkewich), speaker, piano, Op. 78, 1979

ORCHESTRAL: Ode to Tiffany, string orchestra, Op. 47, 1973; Red Deer Overture No. 1, symphonic band, Op. 48, 1973; Trails of Yore, symphonic band, Op. 57, 1973–74; Alberta Nocturne, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, string orchestra, Op. 80, 1979; Entrance Festive, symphonic band, Op. 81, 1980; Memorial, string orchestra, Op. 82, 1980; Red Deer Overture No. 2, symphonic band, Op. 100, 1984; Gloria, brass ensemble, Op. 104, 1986 (version of work for mixed chorus); Overture, 'Bambi', Op. 110, 1989; Lacombe Centennial Overture (text by Howard Fredeen), mixed chorus ad libitum, symphonic band, Op. 118, 1995–96; A Wordless Requiem in the Manner of a Lullaby, violins (4 equal groups), celli (3 equal groups), Op. 120, 1996; Mountain Eagle flies above weasel-headed log, symphonic band, 2000 (version of piano work); Song of the little white lamb to the cherubims, trumpet, string orchestra, Op. 130, 2005

CHAMBER MUSIC: Capriccio, violin, piano, Op. 12, 1963; Trio, flute, oboe, bass clarinet/bassoon, Op. 17, 1963; Andante, oboe, 2 clarinets, violin, Op. 13, 1963; Five Movements, clarinet, piano, Op. 21, 1964; String Quartet, Op. 25, 1964–65 (also version of fourth variation as Trio, violin, cello, piano, 1999); Twelve-Tone Fantasy, violin, piano, Op. 26, 1965; Seven Movements, clarinet, violin, Op. 27, 1965; Allegro and Largo, clarinet, piano, Op. 14, 1965; Canadiana, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, Op. 29, 1966–67; Rhapsodie, flute, piano, Op. 34a, 1970 (version of work for piano); Two Pieces, violin, piano, Op. 37, 1971; Three Canons, 2 violins, Op. 40, 1971; Introduction and Allegro, cello, Op. 42, 1971; Impression, string quartet, Op. 51, 1973; Prelude, Arioso and Finale, flute, piano, Op. 53, 1973; A Wordless Song, violin, piano, Op. 58a, 1974 (version of work for piano); Three Movements, flute, piano, Op. 63, 1977; Suite, cello, piano, Op. 65, 1977; Sarabande, cello, Op. 73, 1978; Two Pieces, flute, Op. 75, 1971–79; A November Sarabande and Gavotte, cello, harpsichord, Op. 74, 1978–79; Prelude and Canon, violin, piano, Op. 15, 1979; Four Pieces, clarinet, piano, Op. 18, 1979; Three Short Pieces, cello, piano, Op. 19, 1979; Concert Overture, trumpet, piano, Op. 83, 1980; Cloud Eleven, flute, oboe, clarinet, 3 trumpets, 5 percussion, Op. 84, 1980; Bonaventure Duos, viola, piano, Op. 93, 1983; Request in the Style of a Minuet, violin, piano, Op. 94, 1983; Four Fragments, French horn, piano, Op. 96, 1984; Leap Year Scherzino, violin, piano, Op. 97, 1984; Elegy, cello, piano, Op. 98, 1984; Oboe solo piece for New Years, 1985; Little Diversion, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1987 (version of Four Piano Pieces, Op. 106b No. 4); Two Dialogs, flute, tuba, Op. 107, 1988; 5 x 5, cello, piano, Op. 109, 1989; Song for Anthea, violin, piano, 1989 (version of Three Songs, Op. 33 No. 2); October Birthday Piece, recorder, Op. 112, 1990; Clarinet Solo, Op. 112b, 1990; Flute Duet, 2 flutes, Op. 112c, 1990; Glad Day, 2 oboes, English horn, 1990 (version of piano work)

CHAMBER MUSIC: A Festival Arietta, violin, piano, Op. 113, 1991; Trio, tuba, harp, tubular bells, pelican ad libitum, Op. 119, 1996; A Joyous Étude in 3rds and 4ths, 2 alto saxophones, 1998 (also version for any 2 similar voices/instruments, 1998); Something Easier for Alto Saxophone Duet, 2 alto saxophones, 1998; Cherry Pie Trio with Little Brown Plate, 2 violins, piano, 1999; Piece for Solo Violin (after the rhythm of a Boccherini minuet), 2000; Trio (in memory of Sibelius), violin, cello, piano, 2000; Four 'Treatments' (on a theme from Alban Berg's 'Der Wein'), violin, piano, 2001; 'Song of Comfort' at 14 and 7, flute, piano, 2001; Theme and 7 'Treatments' on the Hymn 'For Thy Gifts of Countless Worth', any keyboard instrument, 5 handbells, 2001; Tune for a very distant relative, violin, piano, 2001; Piece for Harp, Op. 123, 2002; A coastal meditation, violin, Op. 126, 2005; DUO, violin, piano, Op. 127, 2005; The Nightingale Farewell, violin, Op. 129, 2005; Little Hamster 'Oreo', violin, 2005

CHORAL: Soldiers of the King (text by D.W. Whittle), children's chorus, organ, 1961; The Apostles' Creed, mixed chorus, organ, Op. 8, 1962; Trails of Yore (text by Henry Stelfox), mixed chorus, piano, 1964; Five Songs (text by Henry Stelfox), mixed chorus, piano, Op. 22, 1964; Christmas Chorales (texts by John Cawood, L. Lindeman), mixed chorus, Op. 23, 1964–67; The Flight of the Lark (text by William Wordsworth), mixed chorus, string orchestra, 1968; Character of a Happy Life, mixed chorus, 1968 (version of vocal work); The Gentle Beasts, The Stable (Christmas chorales, texts from a Slovakian carol [translated by Leclair Alger], a Christmas card), mixed chorus, 1970–71; Hymn to the Seasons (text by Peter Chabanowich), soloists, speaker, mixed chorus, organ, orchestra, Op. 38, 1970–71; The Christmas Bell (This Wondrous Child) (text by M.A. Jack), children's chorus, piano/organ, 1971; A Childrens' Christmas Song (Santa and the Snowbird) (text by the composer), children's chorus, 1973; Montfort est Saint (text by St. Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort), mixed chorus, organ ad libitum, Op. 54, 1973; Quatre Cantiques Eucharistiques (text by St. Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort), mixed chorus, Op. 55, 1973; In Search of God (text by Hildegard Grutter), mixed chorus, piano, Op. 60, 1975; Three Unaccompanied Choruses (text by William Butler Yeats), mixed chorus, Op. 67, 1978; Snowflakes (text by the composer), mixed chorus, 1978; Joy (text by Ralph S. Cushman), mixed chorus, 1978; Through the Year (text by Julian S. Cutler), mixed chorus, organ, 1978; The Call of the Northwest (text by Henry Stelfox), mixed chorus, piano, Op. 76, 1979; Three Alberta Sketches (texts by Betty Dyck, E. Stewart-Richmond, Henry Stelfox), mixed chorus, Op. 77, 1979 (also version of No. 3, 'The Bald Prairie' [text by Henry Stelfox] for female chorus, 1989); Knowing, congregational chorus, 1981

CHORAL: Four Songs of Praise (text by Sydney Bell), mixed chorus, 1983; Four Verses (text by Ernie Siemens), congregational chorus, 1986; Gloria, Op. 104, 1986 (also version for brass ensemble); Hope Determined, Sing Alberta! (text by Janet Panuska), mixed chorus, 1990; There is a heaven for volunteers (text from The Flash), mixed chorus, string orchestra, Op. 114, 1992; The Red Deer Fair Song (text by James K. Summers), mixed chorus, piano, 1994; Psalm 18:2, mixed chorus, 1996; A 69 Arrangement of Happy Birthday (for James K. Summers' 69th birthday), mixed chorus, 1999; Peace is Flowing like a River (text from a traditional source), mixed chorus, piano, 2000; Haida (Hebrew song), mixed chorus, piano, 2000; And when I saw Him (text from the Book of Revelation), mixed chorus, 2000; Something nothing but a gibbon could do (text by the composer), mixed chorus, 2000; Hymn to Joy, mixed chorus, 2001

VOCAL: It's never half enough (text by the composer), any voice, piano, 1961; Four Songs (texts by Leslie Coulson, Sir Walter Scott, William Wordsworth), soprano, piano, Op. 6, 1962; Twilight Suggestions (text by E.C.P. Jansen), soprano, piano, Op. 11, 1963; Three Songs on Friendship (texts by Percy Bysshe Shelley, Sir Winston Churchill), soprano, piano, Op. 20, 1964; Character of a Happy Life (text by Sir Henry Wotton), any voice, 1968 (also version for mixed chorus); Three Songs (text by Peter Chabanowich), soprano, piano, Op. 31, 1969; Three Songs (text by Peter Chabanowich), soprano, piano, Op. 33, 1969 (also version of No. 2 as Song for Anthea, violin, piano); I wandered lonely as a cloud (text by William Wordsworth), soprano, piano, Op. 36, 1970; Five Songs (text by Peter Chabanowich), soprano, speaker, flute, piano, Op. 39, 1970–71; Rowena, soprano, flute, harp, string orchestra, Op. 43, 1971; Three Songs, soprano, piano, Op. 44, 1971; The Candle in the Night (text by Judy Harvie-Reynard), soprano, piano, Op. 52, 1973; Early the Robin (Melodic Fragment) (text from a plaque given to the composer by Florette C. Martin), 1976; If (text from a plaque given to the composer by Florette C. Martin), soprano, piano, Op. 64, 1977; Of Thirteen Years Last May (text by the composer), tenor, piano, Op. 71, 1978; The Brooke Song (text by the composer), tenor, piano, Op. 71a, 1978; Two Songs of Young Years (texts by Emily Carey Alleman, John Greenleaf Whittier), tenor, piano, Op. 79, 1979; Six Songs (texts by John Drescher, Ida Norton Munson, Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson of Aldworth and Freshwater, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Judy Harvie-Reynard), any voice, piano, Op. 62, 1968–80; Kaniksu, any voice, small orchestra, Op. 88, 1981–82

VOCAL: Two Songs (texts by MacDonald Coleman, John G. Magee), tenor, piano, Op. 103, 1985; Three Songs (text by Harold Byron Ricker), tenor, piano, Op. 105, 1986; There are only lingering moments... (text by Judy Harvie-Reynard), mezzo-soprano, flute, harp, celesta, 1986; Four Songs (texts by Wilfred Thorley, Erma C. Peel, other poets), any voice, piano, Op. 106a, 1987; Three Songs (texts by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the Book of Luke), soprano, piano, Op. 108, 1988; Song from the Novel (text by Pauline Gedge), soprano, piano, 1990; The Village of St. Bernadette (text by Eula Parker), any voice, piano, 1993; Five Green Pears (text by the composer), any voice, 1994; Red Deer Lights, Hi – I'm from Red Deer (text by James K. Summers), bass, piano, 1996; The Dream-Gopher Song (text by the composer), any voice, piano, 1998; A Sixty-measure Vocalise, any voice, piano, 1999; Mountain Eagle flies above weasel-headed log, any voice, piano, 2000 (version of work for piano); The Robin, any voice, piano, 2000; Our world is young and of a measure passing bound. Infinite are the heights to climb, the depths to sound (text from an unidentified source), any voice, piano, 2001; We brought the summer with us, any voice, piano, Op. 124, 2002; Gull Lake, AB – Valley Park Manor (text by James K. Summers), any voice, piano, 2005; To many the rose – Never will I say 'Be Mine' (text by the composer), any voice, piano, 2005; Angela (text by P.M. Akins), any voice, piano, 2005; Song of the bride in the Morning (text by P.M. Akins), any voice, piano, 2005

PIANO: The Quarter Road, c. 1960; Four Nature Pieces, Op. 1, 1961; Six Idylls, Op. 2, 1961; Valsette and Polka, Op. 7, 1962 (also longer version as Valsette, 1990); Addition to an already existing work, 2 pianos, 1963 (second piano plays Sonata in la maggiore by Domenico Scarlatti); Two Pieces, 2 pianos, Op. 4, 1963; Eight Short Pieces, Op. 16, 1963; Four Pieces in White, Op. 3, 1965; Suite pour le piano, Op. 5, 1966; A peaceful moment in a sunny upstairs room at Lacasses, Bonnyville, where I lived for three years, 1966–68; Jeux d'Enfants, piano 4 hands, 1968; Three Canadian Scenes, Op. 24, 1966–69; Fantasy, 'Farewell', Op. 32, 1969; Rhapsodie, Op. 34, 1970 (also version for flute, piano, Op. 34a); Five Pieces, Op. 35, 1970; Incantation and Dance Frenetique – Meditation and Redemption Chorale, Op. 41, 1971; The Shining Light, Op. 45, 1971; Autumn Rites I-II, Op. 49, 1972; Sonata No. 1, Op. 50, 1972; Birthday Piece, Op. 56, 1973; A Wordless Song, Op. 58, 1974 (also version for violin, piano, Op. 58a); County of Beaver Sketches, Op. 46, 1974; Two Pieces in A minor, Op. 59, 1975; Souvenir Theme and Variations Novelette, Op. 61, 1975–76; Sonata No. 2, Op. 66, 1977; Sonata No. 3, Op. 68, 1978; Sonata No. 4, Op. 69, 1978; Souvenir-Memoire, Op. 70, 1978; Four Pieces, Op. 72, 1978; Three Pieces, Op. 9, 1979; Moment Musical with Schubert and Strauss, 1979; Three Pieces, Op. 10, 1979; Sonata No. 5, Op. 85, 1980; Sonata No. 6, Op. 86, 1980; Sonata No. 7, Op. 89, 1981; Sonata No. 8, Op. 90, 1982; Sonata No. 9, Op. 91, 1982; Sonata No. 10, Op. 92, 1982; Seven Souvenirs, Op. 87, 1980–83; Three Piano Pieces, Op. 95, 1983; Three Visions, Op. 99, 1984; Four Piano Pieces, Op. 106b, 1984–87 (one section may be performed separately: Winter Walk, 1984; also version of No. 4 as Little Diversion, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon]); Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 101, 1985; Elegy in Commemoration of Berg Centenary, Op. 30, 1985; Five Piano Pieces, Op. 106c, 1987

PIANO: The Demise of Lake Demay – Piano 11 – Piano 69, Op. 111, 1990; Meditation on a Theme of Borodin, 1990; Glad Day, 1990 (also version for 2 oboes, English horn); Piano Piece based on the 'Gloria' from Liszt's 'Missa Choralis', Op. 115, 1994; Piece for Annette Bradley's Duet Pupils, 2 pianos, 1995; Five Piano Pieces, Op. 117, 1994–98; Thoughts of a non-Eleventh Sonata remembered, 1999; Two Hogsheds in the Sunset, 1999; Petirrojo-Pettirosso (The Spanish-Italian Robin), 1999; Red Deer Fog – November 17, 1999, 1999; A Final Piece before the Millennium Dawns, 1999; Mountain Eagle flies above weasel-headed log (3 versions, with decreasing difficulty and other differences), 2000 (also versions for symphonic band; any voice, piano); In the Jungles of Kalimantan, 2000; Piano Piece based on the letters of the name Helga (in memory of Max Bruch), 2000; Piece in Memory of Keith Mann, 2001; At Bower Ponds, 2001; 24 Treatments on 7 notes from the Hymn 'For Thy Gifts of Countless Worth', 2001; Meditation, 'The Light of the Sun', Op. 121, 2001; 4 Interruptus Portraits, Op. 122, 2001; after the painting by Renoir–2 young girls at the piano, piano 4 hands, 2005; Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 125, 2005; Variations on Sancta Lucia, Op. 128, 2005; Scooter the Squirrel, 2005; The Moose Cottage, 2005; The Kangaphant & the Muleagle, 2005

ORGAN: Meditation on a Gregorian Theme, Op. 28, 1966; Dedication Piece, Op. 101, 1984

DISCOGRAPHY

Three Alberta Sketches, Op. 77. Provincial Honour Choir (Fantasy: FS23575, 1979) (LP)

Clarinet Solo, Op. 112b. Daniel Sutherland, clarinet (CLEF Records: 97002-2, 1997)

Meditation on a Gregorian Theme, Op. 28. Stillman Matheson, organ (Eclectra: 2063, 2003)

Three Unaccompanied Choruses, Op. 67; Red Deer Overture No. 2, Op. 100; Alberta Nocturne, Op. 80; Meditation on a Gregorian Theme, Op. 28; Two Dialogs, Op. 107; various songs; Piano Variations on the name Helena Yeung (never notated); Canadiana, Op. 29; A Festival Arietta, Op. 113. (cassette)

Seven Movements, Op. 27. (cassette)

Sonata No. 4, Op. 69.

(Last updated on June 26, 2006)