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WILLIAM MURDOCH (1888-1942)
Australian pianist
William Murdoch was a marvelous pianist, perhaps of the best kind. Although I have heard only a small handful of his solo recordings, each strikes me as perfect. They are played with subtlety and will passion, with delicacy and with authority, with elegance and a sense of timing that is like the most natural breathing. Nothing jumps out at me, nothing is missing, and a sense of supreme satisfaction is the result.
Murdoch was also an admirable chamber musician to which the examples below will attest.
Beethoven Piano Sonata 23 in F minor, Op 57 "Appassionata"
recorded in 1927
i Allegro assai
ii Andante con moto - iii Allegro ma non troppo - Presto
Chopin Ballade 3 in A♭ major, Op 47
recorded in 1927
Chopin Waltz 7 in C♯ minor, Op 64~2
recorded in 1934
Sinding Frühlingsrauschen (1896)
recorded ca 1923
Debussy 3 Jardins sous la pluie from Estampes
recorded in 1923
Grieg Sonata for violin and piano 2, Op 13
ii Alegretto tranquillo
recorded in 1925 with Albert Sammons, violin
Schumann Liebesgarten
from Op.34, Four Duets for soprano and senor
Manchester Trio (William Murdoch, piano; Arthur Catterall, violin; W. H. Squire, cello)
Tchaikovsky Piano Trio, Op 50
recorded in 1923 with Arthur Catterall, violin and W. H. Squire, cello
i Pezzo elegiaco (Moderato assai - Allegro giusto)
ii (A) Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto - (B) Variazione Finale e coda
Widor Serenade
Manchester Trio (William Murdoch, piano; Arthur Catterall, violin; W. H. Squire, cello)
For those of you who enjoy murder mysteries, here is my first with a strong musical polemic as background
Murder in the House of the Muse
which is also available as an audiobook.
And this is the more recently published second mystery in the series:
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