(b. 23 May 1941, Calgary, Alberta).
Canadian composer of mostly chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed in Canada; he is also active as an organist and pianist.
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 honours 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 his work as a composer and performer).
As an organist, he worked at Trinity Chapel in Penhold, Alberta from 1978–91 and has occasionally played at other churches in Alberta since 1991.
As a pianist, he has worked as an accompanist at the Kiwanis Music Festival in Red Deer since 1968.
He taught as an assistant and served as accompanist-in-residence at various schools in Bonnyville, Alberta from 1965–68. He has taught piano privately in Red Deer since 1968. He worked as a band instructor at four schools in Alberta from 1973–78 and as a recorder instructor in Penhold from 1975–78.
His publishers include Alberta Keys Music Publishing and Berandol Music.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
We will not speak of yesterday (text by Judith 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, Op. 104, 1986 (version of choral work, Op. 104)
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 in 4 equal groups, cellos in 3 equal groups, Op. 120, 1996
Mountain Eagle flies above weasel-headed log, symphonic band, 2000 (version of work for piano)
Song of the little white lamb to the cherubims, trumpet, string orchestra, Op. 130, 2005
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Capriccio, violin, piano, Op. 12, 1963
Andante, oboe, 2 clarinets, violin, Op. 13, 1963
Trio, flute, oboe, bass clarinet/bassoon, Op. 17, 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, French horn, bassoon, Op. 29, 1966–67
Rhapsodie, flute, piano, Op. 34a, 1970 (version of work for piano, Op. 34)
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, Op. 58)
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, oboe, 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, clarinet, Op. 112b, 1990
Flute Duet, 2 flutes, Op. 112c, 1990
Glad Day, 2 oboes, English horn, 1990 (version of work for piano)
A Festival Arietta, violin, piano, Op. 113, 1991
Trio, tuba, harp, tubular bells, pelican ad libitum, Op. 119, 1996
A Joyous Etude 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), violin, 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 Seven '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, 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 Daniel Webster 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, Ludvig Mathias 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 Christmas carol from Slovakia [translated by Sorche Nic Leodhas], 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 Children's Christmas Song (Santa and the Snowbird) (text by the composer), children's chorus, 1973
Montfort est Saint (text by St. Louis de Montfort), mixed chorus, organ ad libitum, Op. 54, 1973
Quatre Cantiques Eucharistiques (text by St. Louis 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 one section, The Bald Prairie [text by Henry Stelfox], for female chorus, 1989)
Knowing, congregational chorus, 1981
Four Songs of Praise (text by Sydney Bell), mixed chorus, 1983
Four Verses (text by Ernie Siemens), congregational chorus, 1986
Gloria, mixed chorus, Op. 104, 1986 (also version for brass)
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 the 69th birthday of James K. Summers), 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), soprano, piano, 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
Two Songs (texts by MacDonald Coleman, John Gillespie Magee, Jr.), 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 Wilfrid 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 pianist plays a 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 Danse Frénétique – 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-Mémoire, 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
Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 101, 1985
Elegy in Commemoration of Berg Centenary, Op. 30, 1985
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)
Five Piano Pieces, Op. 106c, 1987
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 of same work), 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 seven notes from the Hymn 'For Thy Gifts of Countless Worth', 2001
Meditation, 'The Light of the Sun', Op. 121, 2001
Four Interruptus Portraits, Op. 122, 2001
after the painting by Renoir–Two 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
SELECT 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)