James Ramsey Murray

American composer and hymnist (1841–1905)

James Ramsey Murray (1841–1905) was an American composer and author including of songbooks.^[1] His work includes hymns and Christmas music and was published by Root & Cady^[2] as well as S. Brainard Sons. His work includes a popular arrangement of "Away in a Manger".^[3] He helped write "Daisy Deane" in an American Civil War camp.^[4]

Murray helped produce the singing lesson book The Pacific Glee Book with Frederic Woodman Root. A portrait of him by Jacob Henry Hall is in the Library of Congress.^[5]

Murray was born to a Scottish family.^[6]

Murray died on 10 March 1905 in Cincinnati of Addison's disease and he was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery^[7]

"Away in a manger" score

"Luther's Cradle Hymn" (an alternative name for "Away in a Manger") music

Selected songs

• "Gallop" with H.W. Fairbank, on the Copper: Original Soundtrack

Bibliography

Source:^[8]

• Pure Diamonds (1872)
• School chimes : a new school music book (1874)
• Joyful Songs (1875)
• Heavenward (1877)
• Heart and voice : a new collection of Sunday school songs (1881)
• Dainty songs for little lads and lasses : for use in the kindergarten, school and home (1887)

References

1. "James Murray - The Center For Church Music, Songs and Hymns". songsandhymns.org.
2. Lest we Forget: "James Ramsey Murray". Andover Historical Society
3. Studwell, William E.; Hoffmann, Frank; Cooper, B. Lee (2012). The Christmas Carol Reader, pp. 7–8. Routledge. ISBN 1136591451
4. Hall, Jacob Henry (1914). "James R. Murray". Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers, pp. 208–211. Fleming H. Revell.
5. "James Ramsey Murray (1841-1905)". Library of Congress.
6. "James Ramsey Murray". andoverlestweforget.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
7. "James Ramsey Murray". Hymntime.com
8. "Murray, James R. 1841-1905 (James Ramsey) [WorldCat Identities]".