Scotland’s Jim Murray Wins ANZAC Tune Competition

P/M James Murray of Western Australia Police Pipe Band has won a prestigious composing competition for a tune to commemorate 100 years since the bravery and sacrifice of the Gallipoli landings during WW1. The tune, complete with harmony, is being made available here for the public with the composer’s permission:

A press release issued by the promoters of the competition, Pipe Bands Australia and the New Zealand Pipe Band Association, reads:
‘As 2015 marks 100 years since the landings at Gallipoli and the birth of the ANZAC spirit, it was thought there should be a pipe tune composed to commemorate that part of our countries’ history. So the Australian and New Zealand Pipe Band associations invited members to submit tunes. [wds id=”3″]

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‘The tune could be an Air/Lament or Slow March at the discretion of the composer, and be appropriate in both musicality and title to the intent of the occasion. The tune had to be original, specifically for this competition and must not have been previously published.  ‘Preference would be given to a tune which lends itself to being fully orchestrated. 

‘The competition was very well supported and 53 entries were received. The entrants went to great lengths with, in some cases, harmonies, orchestration and lyrics. The judges were Bob Worrall (Canada) , Brett Tidswell (Australia) and Greg Wilson (New Zealand). The tunes and their supporting notes were sent to the judges clear of any reference to the composer. It was a daunting task for the judges, but they have named James Murray (Perth) as the winner. His tune was entitled ‘Anzac We Remember You’. 

‘The score will be made available to bands and individual players in time for ANZAC Day and it is hoped that opportunities will be made for the composition to be presented and eventually become an established part of ceremonies.’
Jim Murray (left) started piping at the age of 10, initially being taught by his father and then later by Bert Barron of St Andrews and Donald MacPherson. Steadily climbing the ranks of the junior solo circuit, he played with local bands Cupar and District and Kinglassie and District. Jim went on to lead famous bands such as Dysart and Dundonald, and more recently, Fife Constabulary in Grade 1. Before that Jim played with former World Champions Shotts and Dykehead and won the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship title on two occasions with them, in 2003 and 2005, and both under P/M Robert Mathieson. In 2005, the band also won the Champions of Champions title.

Jim’s notable solo achievements include:
1997 Gold Medal, Oban – 1st place,
1999 Former winners MSR – 1st place,
2003 Bratach Gorm, London – 2nd place,
2005 Northern Meeting Gold Medal – 2nd place,
2006 Northern Meeting Gold Medal – 2nd place,
2007 Donald McDonald competition, Skye – 1st place,
2009 Former winners, Oban – 1st place,
2009 JB Robertson March, London – 1st place,
2009 Glenfiddich, Piobaireachd – 5th place.

Prior to his arrival to Australia to join the WA Police, Jim was a director of the family civil engineering, plant hire and construction business. Jim’s brother Douglas is also a top class piper. He is currently pipe major of the Fife Constabulary band and was last year’s double Gold Medallist, winning the coveted award at both the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting.

pipingpress.com would be delighted to receive an audio recording of the tune complete with harmonies and we will make available to our thousands of readers worldwide.

For more on the heroic ANZAC landings at Gallipoli click here.