Herbert Murrill facts for kids

Herbert Murrill (born May 11, 1909 – died July 25, 1952) was a talented English musician. He was known as a composer (someone who writes music) and an organist (someone who plays the organ).

Early Life and Learning

Herbert Henry John Murrill was born in London, England, on May 11, 1909. He was the oldest of three children. His family lived in South London, where his father worked as a cork merchant.

Herbert had many musical friends who helped him a lot. From 1920 to 1925, he was a chorister (a singer in a choir) and a scholarship student at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School.

Music School and University

In 1925, Herbert chose to go to the Royal Academy of Music. He studied piano, harmony (how chords work together), and organ. He won many awards for his musical skills there.

While studying, he also worked as the organist at St Nicholas Church in Chiswick. His first musical pieces, like a ballet called Picnic, were created during this time. The famous composer Ralph Vaughan Williams liked Picnic and became Herbert's friend.

After the Royal Academy, Herbert became an organ scholar at Worcester College, Oxford. He studied there from 1928 to 1931.

Life in the 1930s and During Wartime

After finishing university, Herbert held a concert of his own music in London in 1931. In 1933, he became a Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music. This meant he taught others how to write music.

In 1933, he married Alice Margaret Good, who was a concert pianist. He later married Vera Canning in 1941. They had a daughter named Carolyn Jane Murrill.

Working with The Group Theatre

During the 1930s, Herbert was also the Musical Director for The Group Theatre. Here, he worked with famous writers like W. H. Auden and composers like Benjamin Britten. He conducted music for their plays.

Wartime Service at Bletchley Park

From 1942 to 1946, during World War II, Herbert joined the Intelligence Corps. He worked as a Sergeant at Bletchley Park. This was a secret place where people worked to break enemy codes.

At Bletchley Park, Herbert led the Musical Society. He helped organize performances and even brought famous musicians like Peter Pears and Myra Hess to perform for the people working there.

After the War: The BBC Years

From 1936 onwards, Herbert's main job was at the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). He worked in the music department. After the war, he became the Head of Music in 1950.

People who worked with him had different opinions. Some thought he was a bit strict, but others, like Alan Frank, said he was "an outstanding success." They also said he was a "skilled organist and pianist" and a "stimulating teacher."

Sadly, in late 1951, Herbert was diagnosed with cancer. He left his job at the BBC by Christmas and passed away in London on July 25, 1952.

Herbert Murrill's Music

Herbert Murrill's music had a unique sound. He was influenced by French composers like Maurice Ravel and also by Igor Stravinsky. He combined these styles with an English touch.

Early Works and Film Scores

Some of his early works include a jazz opera called Man in Cage (1930). He also wrote music for short educational films, such as And So To Work (1936). He wrote music for plays by W. H. Auden, including The Dance of Death.

In 1937, Herbert and his first wife, Alice Good, played two pianos for a live television show called Full Moon.

Orchestral and Chamber Music

His orchestral piece, Three Hornpipes (1934), was played several times at the BBC Proms. Another work, Country Dances (1945), was for string orchestra.

One of his most important works is his second cello concerto, called The Song of the Birds (1951). He wrote it for the famous cellist Pablo Casals. It uses a popular Catalan song. His wife, Vera Canning, played it for the first time in 1951.

His String Quartet from 1939 is also very well-known. Ralph Vaughan Williams said it was "full of invention and imagination." Herbert asked for the slow part of this quartet to be played at his funeral. He also wrote songs for singers.

Keyboard and Church Music

Herbert was a skilled keyboard player. He wrote pieces for piano, like the two Impromptus (1933). He also wrote a Suite Française (1938) for harpsichord or piano.

He made popular arrangements for piano of famous orchestral pieces. For example, he arranged William Walton's march Crown Imperial for piano duet.

Today, his most often performed works are his church music. These include his settings of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (published in 1947). He also wrote a hymn tune called Carolyn (1951) and an organ piece called Carillon.

Herbert Murrill also created the official orchestral version of the Indian national anthem. This was approved before India became independent in 1947.