Roy Harris (1898-1979)

[Maestro267]

I must admit, the 3rd Symphony doesn't do as much for me as I thought it would. What with it being regarded as one of the Great American Symphonies, "evoking vast landscapes" etc. I think Copland did that much better. Harris 3 is alright, but it didn't bowl me over completely like I'd expect a Great American Symphony to.

[vandermolen]

Is this the Lp you once owned?!

Yes, that is the one - a wonderful LP. It has an enormous significance for me as I discovered it around the time my dad died in 1985. Whilst staying with my mother I often played the LP so, in my mind, it became connected with my father. This has always added to the poignancy of this work and I totally agree that this is by far the best performance of it. Thanks to pjme for posting the cover of the marvellous Koussevitsky disc.

[vandermolen]

A bump up for this thread. Have any of you ever heard a Harris symphony played live? Especially those of you who live in USA. I did hear it performed live at the London Proms decades ago. It was conducted by Aaron Copland and I remember that my brother and I were very disappointed by what seemed to us to be a very unidiomatic performance. As for recordings of the Third Symphony, Bernstein's recording on Sony remains my favourite but I also like the underrated Jarvi recording on Chandos.

[Mirror Image]

A bump up for this thread. Have any of you ever heard a Harris symphony played live? Especially those of you who live in USA. I did hear it performed live at the London Proms decades ago. It was conducted by Aaron Copland and I remember that my brother and I were very disappointed by what seemed to us to be a very unidiomatic performance. As for recordings of the Third Symphony, Bernstein's recording on Sony remains my favourite but I also like the underrated Jarvi recording on Chandos.

I've never seen Harris on a program here in Atlanta (or elsewhere in the States). Not surprising in the slightest. We're more likely to hear something from Vaughan Williams before we ever hear a work from Harris. I hate to say it but the US is a dried-up, culture-less wasteland.

[Karl Henning]

A bump up for this thread. Have any of you ever heard a Harris symphony played live? Especially those of you who live in USA.

I have not, nor have I been aware (I may have been inattentive...) of any Harris symphony being programmed by the BSO while we've been in town.

[Karl Henning]

Tangential to the topic, but . . .

I hate to say it but the US is a dried-up, culture-less wasteland.

Oh, I don't know . . .

https://www.youtube.com/v/H1GX6gAmom8

[vandermolen]

I've never seen Harris on a program here in Atlanta (or elsewhere in the States). Not surprising in the slightest. We're more likely to hear something from Vaughan Williams before we ever hear a work from Harris. I hate to say it but the US is a dried-up, culture-less wasteland.

Thanks John and love the W. Schuman avatar (unless it has changed by now  ). His 6th Symphony is one of the great ones as far as I'm concerned. Isn't there a saying that prophets are never appreciated in their homeland? I had a feeling that Roy Harris didn't get performed much in the USA, which I think is a shame as I rate some of his symphonies (3,5,6 and 7 in particular) highly.

[vandermolen]

I have not, nor have I been aware (I may have been inattentive...) of any Harris symphony being programmed by the BSO while we've been in town.

Thanks Karl
I find that rather sad in a way.

Yes, clearly it's left to one KH to carry the flag for US culture.

[Karl Henning]

Well, I cannot ever believe that I am alone.  For only the first thing, that performance depends upon an ensemble of highly cultivated individuals!

[kyjo]

I must admit, the 3rd Symphony doesn't do as much for me as I thought it would. What with it being regarded as one of the Great American Symphonies, "evoking vast landscapes" etc. I think Copland did that much better. Harris 3 is alright, but it didn't bowl me over completely like I'd expect a Great American Symphony to.

I'd have to agree. I like it but was a bit underwhelmed after hearing so much admiration for the piece here and elsewhere. I actually prefer Harris' Sixth "Gettysburg" which is a powerfully atmospheric work.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

A bump up for this thread. Have any of you ever heard a Harris symphony played live? Especially those of you who live in USA.

The 3rd was played here last summer at the Grant Park Festival, under Carlos Kalmar. Unfortunately I was not able to go.

Thanks John and love the W. Schuman avatar (unless it has changed by now  ). His 6th Symphony is one of the great ones as far as I'm concerned.

I heard Slatkin conduct the Schuman 6th with the CSO a few years ago - I think I reported on it here.

[Mirror Image]

Tangential to the topic, but . . .

Oh, I don't know . . .

https://www.youtube.com/v/H1GX6gAmom8

Oh, Karl. You're one of the many exceptions of course! I was more or less making a generalization.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks John and love the W. Schuman avatar (unless it has changed by now  ). His 6th Symphony is one of the great ones as far as I'm concerned. Isn't there a saying that prophets are never appreciated in their homeland? I had a feeling that Roy Harris didn't get performed much in the USA, which I think is a shame as I rate some of his symphonies (3,5,6 and 7 in particular) highly.

Thanks, Jeffrey. I enjoy all of the Schuman's symphonies a great deal plus many of the other orchestral works he composed. I recently bought a disc of Schuman SQs that I'm really looking forward to hearing since I've been on kind of a SQ kick this past year. I don't think it's just Harris that is unappreciated here in the States. This goes for many composers who were writing around the same time: Schuman, Diamond, Mennin, Piston, Hanson, etc.

[vandermolen]

The 3rd was played here last summer at the Grant Park Festival, under Carlos Kalmar. Unfortunately I was not able to go.

I heard Slatkin conduct the Schuman 6th with the CSO a few years ago - I think I reported on it here.

Well, I'd loved to have heard the Schuman 6th live.

[vandermolen]

Thanks, Jeffrey. I enjoy all of the Schuman's symphonies a great deal plus many of the other orchestral works he composed. I recently bought a disc of Schuman SQs that I'm really looking forward to hearing since I've been on kind of a SQ kick this past year. I don't think it's just Harris that is unappreciated here in the States. This goes for many composers who were writing around the same time: Schuman, Diamond, Mennin, Piston, Hanson, etc.

Thanks John.
Much the same goes for Bax, Alwyn, Moeran and Rubbra in the UK. Not to mention Bate and Arnell!

[snyprrr]

A bump up for this thread. Have any of you ever heard a Harris symphony played live? Especially those of you who live in USA. I did hear it performed live at the London Proms decades ago. It was conducted by Aaron Copland and I remember that my brother and I were very disappointed by what seemed to us to be a very unidiomatic performance. As for recordings of the Third Symphony, Bernstein's recording on Sony remains my favourite but I also like the underrated Jarvi recording on Chandos.

I think we've been psychically linked,... I cracked out No.3 a couple of days ago,... BOTH versions, lol (Lenny), and I ended up playing the ending over and over and over again. Surely it's my fav ending of all time? (Nielsen 4 comes to mind)

And had exceptional reactions this time to 8 and 11, both with the tinkling Orchestral Piano. I don't know, by this time, we should all know HOW to have a positive Harris experience, without getting sucked into the controversy.

[springrite]

I heard the Schuman 3 at the Hollywood Bowl years ago.

I like Harris better than Schuman but I have never heard him in concerts although he was performed several times by the Pacific Symphony which recorded it under Keith Clark. It is a far better recording than the NAXOS.

Somehow I feel the Harris is to American music what Rubbra is to British music.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I don't think it's just Harris that is unappreciated here in the States. This goes for many composers who were writing around the same time: Schuman, Diamond, Mennin, Piston, Hanson, etc.

There seems to have been a minor uptick of interest in these composers in the last few years, at least from where I sit. But emphasis on "minor." Thank God for recordings I say.

[vandermolen]

I think we've been psychically linked,... I cracked out No.3 a couple of days ago,... BOTH versions, lol (Lenny), and I ended up playing the ending over and over and over again. Surely it's my fav ending of all time? (Nielsen 4 comes to mind)

And had exceptional reactions this time to 8 and 11, both with the tinkling Orchestral Piano. I don't know, by this time, we should all know HOW to have a positive Harris experience, without getting sucked into the controversy.

Delighted to hear it. 

[vandermolen]

I heard the Schuman 3 at the Hollywood Bowl years ago.

I like Harris better than Schuman but I have never heard him in concerts although he was performed several times by the Pacific Symphony which recorded it under Keith Clark. It is a far better recording than the NAXOS.

Somehow I feel the Harris is to American music what Rubbra is to British music.

I found your Rubbra point interesting.