Ann Moray

Ann Moray (1909–1981) was a Welsh singer and novelist of Scots‐Irish background.[1] She was known by the nickname Scottie during World War II, when she sung for patients in battlefield hospitals.

Ann Moray
Also known asScottie
Born1909 (1909)
Died1981 (aged 71–72)

She developed an interest in the folklore of Ireland and Scotland. In 1965, she published a book on the topic of love stories in Celtic folklore. As a singer, she recorded Gaelic music and music inspired by Gaelic legends. Her papers have been preserved by Boston University.

Early life

Moray was born to Herbert Moray Burgess and Gertrude Newton.[2] According to a 1964 article in The New York Times, Moray was of Scots‐Irish background, but was raised in Wales. [1]

While biographical information is difficult to find, according to liner notes on her recording, "The Love Songs of Robert Burns" (Spoken Arts #754), she studied music in Vienna.

World War II activities

During World War II, she worked with the Chaplain Corps of the United States Army. She sung unaccompanied in battlefield hospitals, where the soldiers knew her as "Scottie".[3] Maxine Andrews told a story about a soldier who was afraid he was near death, who asked Moray to sing "Abide With Me" at his funeral. Moray assured him that he was not going to die anytime soon, but promised to sing. That night the soldier did die, and "two days later, Ann Moray stood in the rain next to his freshly dug grave on the beachhead at Anzio and sang."[4]

Moray recounted when a field hospital physician had cautioned her against informing a soldier that he had been blinded. This soldier asked her to sing "Smilin' Through" from a 1941 motion picture. The song contains repeated references to "eyes of blue," and the soldier asked her if his eyes "are blue" or "were blue." Moray answered, "were".[5]

Post-war period

After World War II, she continued to study music, and in 1952 gave her first recital at the Town Hall in New York City. She developed a serious interest in the folklore of her homeland, and at a town hall recital in 1954, devoted the second half of the program to songs and legends of Ireland and the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles). [6]

Later in life Ann Moray turned to writing, and is the author of three published novels and a book of short stories.[7] Moray's papers are in the Howard Gotleib Archival Research Center at Boston University.[8]

Marriage

In 1947, Moray married Juan Antonio López de Ceballos y Elizando, a Venezuelan diplomat, in Mexico.

Selected works

Periodicals
  • "Christ Child's Lullaby"—story—Mademoiselle, December 1964, vol. 60, pp. 110–11
  • "Celtic Heritage in Ireland"—Horizon, Spring 1965, vol. 7, pp. 32–39
  • "Tom Tinker Ellis"—story—Mademoiselle, December 1967, vol. 66, pp. 100–01
  • "Magic Mask"—story—Redbook, December 1971, vol. 138, pp. 71–73

Books
  • Rising of the Lark, 1964.
  • A Fair Stream of Silver: Love Tales from Celtic Lore Collected and Retold by Ann Moray. New York: William Morrow and Co., 1965.[9]
  • Gervase. New York: William Morrow and Co., 1970.[10]
  • Dawn Falcon: A Novel of Ancient Egypt. New York: William Morrow and Co., 1974.

Recordings
  • Gaelic Songs and Legends. Spoken Arts #745 (phonorecord 331⁄3).
  • The Love Songs of Robert Burns. Spoken Arts No. 754 (phonorecord 331⁄3).

References
  1. "Captive in Wales; THE RISING OF THE LARK. By Ann Moray. 374 pp. New York: William Morrow & Co. $4.95". The New York Times. 2 February 1964. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. Federal District, Mexico, Civil Registration Marriages, 1861–1950
  3. "USO Entertainment". Archived from the original on 11 September 2007.
  4. Andrews, Maxene and Bill Gilbert. Over Here, Over There: The Andrews Sisters and the USO Stars in World War II. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp, 1993, pp. 164–65. ISBN 978-0821741177
  5. Moray, Ann, "You Don't Need Eyes" in Elmquist, Ruth M. and Daniel A. Poling, Golden Moments of Religious Inspiration: A Treasury of Faith from the Christian Herald. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1954, pp. 259–60. ISBN 9789991033679
  6. John Fischer. "Christmas List". Harpers.org. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  7. John Fischer. "Christmas List". Harpers.org. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  8. "Welcome to the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center". Archived from the original on 2 September 2006.
  9. Callahan, John P. (Review.) The New York Times, 4 January 1966, p. 25.
  10. New York Times Book Review, 25 October 1970, p. 58.
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