Margaret Murray was born March 11, 1921, to a father who was a member of the British Consular Service and to a mother whose father was a well-known ophthalmologist from Bridgeport, Connecticut. The ophthalmologist introduced his daughter to the member of the British Consular Service, and they, the future parents of Margaret Murray, married in Panama. When World War I was over, they moved to Europe, where their daughter Margaret was born.
During World War II, Margaret remembers the American side of her family sending “some wonderful parcels of tasty things that were completely unobtainable at that time.” For the first three years of the war, she studied piano and cello at the Royal College of Music in London, where she remembers taking “her turn at nighttime fire-watching.” She recalls: “It was a musically rich experience because there were fewer students than usual, giving more opportunities, particularly for chamber music, for those who were there.” When Margaret was called up for war service, teaching was one of the options, and she took it.
Up until 1952 Margaret continued to work as a performer and teacher in various schools. Her husband, who was born in Vienna, had been a fellow student at the Royal College of Music. He began working for Electrola after the war and was appointed as “Artists’ Manager” for the first German recordings of Orff-Schulwerk in Munich. After that, the connection with Orff gradually snowballed. Wherever there was a German text that was required to be made available in English, Margaret supplied the English equivalent, and of course for the five original volumes there had to be indigenous songs as well – all approved by Orff. She began work translating and adapting the Orff Schulwerk Music for Children volumes in the late 1950s for English speakers. From 1964 until 1976, she lectured and organized Schulwerk courses in all parts of the United Kingdom and in South Africa, Australia, and the United States. In 1965, she inaugurated, and then led, the annual English-speaking Orff Schulwerk Summer Course at the Orff Institute until 1977.
Since 1976, Margaret has translated many books and articles about Carl Orff and Orff Schulwerk from German to English. In 1964, she founded the Orff-Schulwerk Society (now called Orff Society UK) and still holds the post of honorary secretary. Physical limitations have necessitated stopping the playing of instruments, but she is lucky still to have a singing voice that is acceptable to the local choir. She is looking forward to singing in Bach’s St John Passion in a few weeks’ time.
Our mission is: to demonstrate the value of Orff Schulwerk and promote its widespread use; to support the professional development of our members; and to inspire and advocate for the creative potential of all learners.