The Inside Story: Michael Murray and PASSAGES

Composer Michael Murray’s album PASSAGES brings the words of iconic 19th and 20th century poets to life through stirring music for solo soprano and instruments. Celebrated soprano Genevieve Fulks performs throughout; most of the music heard on the album was written specifically with her voice in mind. Through familiar themes and time-honored poetry, Murray invites listeners to engage with, and even be challenged by, this collection of thoughtful compositions.

Today, Michael is our featured artist in “The Inside Story,” a blog series exploring the inner workings and personalities of our composers and performers. Read on to learn about his eclectic musical library, and the legendary performance that kickstarted his pursuit of a musical career…

What inspires you to write and/or perform?

Although it is a bit cliché, my main inspirations are poetry and nature. Since much of my music is written for voice, the original inspiration is typically a poem or other literature that someone else has written. Being in a natural setting, such as an uncrowded beach or hiking trail in the mountains, also tends to inspire me to compose.

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

Woody Guthrie. His poetry is deceptively simple. Although it seems straightforward and plain on the surface, many of his songs and poems are incredibly profound. My goal as a composer is to accomplish exactly that combination in my music — simplicity with power.

If we looked through your music library, what would we be surprised to find?

I have always had an appreciation for different genres and styles, so certain juxtapositions in my music library might be surprising to some. Examples include The Clash alongside John Denver, Alban Berg alongside Górecki, and the original cast recordings of both West Side Story and Godspell.

Where and when are you at your most creative?

Whether I am at home, traveling, or participating in a creative residency program, the time between waking and actually getting out of bed tends to produce most of my creative ideas. That period of physical inactivity while the mind becomes active is fertile ground for me. On the other hand, taking a walk in the woods can also produce some of my better ideas.

What are your other passions besides music?

Sports, particularly Liverpool Football Club. I’ve been following English football for about 25 years, and Liverpool has been my team since the beginning. I was attracted to the culture and history of the team — they were established in 1892 — and the fact that The Beatles are from Liverpool probably influenced my choice to a certain extent.

After sports, I’d have to say cooking (and eating!) are a close second. I’ve always enjoyed cooking and I love to try new recipes. Sharing food with family and friends either at home or out at a restaurant is a true pleasure.

What was the first performance you remember seeing?

Jethro Tull at the Capital Centre in Landover MD just outside of Washington D.C. in 1977 on the “Songs From the Wood” tour. One of my most vivid memories from that concert is guitarist Martin Barre opening the song Pibroch (Cap in Hand) alone on stage. The amount of sound produced by one person playing a single instrument absolutely blew me away. That moment likely had something to do with me pursuing music, first as a hobby and then as a career.

The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.