Dom Gregory Murray OSB (27 February 1905 – 19 January 1992) was a British monk of Downside Abbey, and an organist and composer. His over-riding interest as a musician was to provide music that would enhance the Roman Catholic liturgy.[1]
Anthony Murray was born on 27 February 1905 in Fulham, London[2] to Arthur Joseph Mandeville Murray (1870–1909) and his wife Gertrude Mary Murray, nee Santiero (1869–1940).[3] He was educated in the choir school of Westminster Cathedral under the aegis of Sir Richard Terry, and at Ealing Abbey School. In 1923 he began his life as a monk at Downside Abbey, taking the name Gregory. In 1927 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. In 1929 he graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in history.
Murray was ordained priest at Downside Abbey in Somerset in 1932. He remained a member of the community at Downside although spending some time away from there: periods between 1939 and 1945 at Ealing Abbey, a daughter house of Downside; from 1948 to 1952 as parish priest of St. Benedict's, Hindley, Greater Manchester; and from 1952 to 1987 as parish priest of St Benedict's, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, adjacent to Downside.
Murray made a significant musical contribution to Catholic liturgy in respect of the development of congregational participation, notably in the 1939 Westminster Hymnal, and A People's Mass (1950: reprinted many times). It is a simple and tuneful setting, with sales of more than two million copies at the time of Murray's death. In 1963, A People's Mass was adapted by John Dykes Bower for Anglican use, with Murray's blessing. Apart from compositions for the organ and the liturgy there are also some choral works. He also composed and edited much music for, and championed the revival of interest in, the recorder.
Murray was considered an authority on the liturgical use of plainchant, and published two books on the subject. The first, Gregorian Rhythm (1934), was superseded by the second, Gregorian Chant according to the manuscripts (1964). In this he diverged radically from his earlier work, and the generally accepted Solesmes interpretation of plainchant. He was a keen supporter of the use of the vernacular in Catholic worship, a position illustrated in his Music and the Mass (1967), which discussed the centrality of music in the reformed liturgies being promoted by the Second Vatican Council.
As an organist Murray was widely known for his ability to improvise on the organ and he established a national reputation as a recitalist from his regular appearances on the BBC, giving organ recitals from Downside. The Homage to Delius hints at Dom Gregory's prodigious facility for improvisation. However, his duties as a priest and monk inhibited the further development of a performing career.
Aside from his musical activities and religious duties, Murray had a lifelong interest in the Gospel of St Matthew and in playing chess, cricket, football and tennis.