Roy Harris (1898-1979)

[snyprrr]

Symphony No.6 "Gettysburg" (1949)

I've heard it decades ago, but now for just the first time. It's quite atmospheric, the tangy haze of a post-coital war conflict hanging in the air like a fetid cloud of dust and blood. The whole thing is quite elegiac, and I couldn't quite fault any of it. In that regard, I personally have to rank it 2nd in the Harris Sweepstakes. Sure, there were no real melodies, but the mood is unique and consistent, whereas, in No.5, the slow movement seems to stand out too much in inspiration from its neighbors? I also think I like No.11 in the Top3.

5 and 7 I'm tying for Fourth Place, maybe also in a tie with the Violin Concerto?

8, then 9

[vandermolen]

Symphony No.6 "Gettysburg" (1949)

I've heard it decades ago, but now for just the first time. It's quite atmospheric, the tangy haze of a post-coital war conflict hanging in the air like a fetid cloud of dust and blood. The whole thing is quite elegiac, and I couldn't quite fault any of it. In that regard, I personally have to rank it 2nd in the Harris Sweepstakes. Sure, there were no real melodies, but the mood is unique and consistent, whereas, in No.5, the slow movement seems to stand out too much in inspiration from its neighbors? I also think I like No.11 in the Top3.

5 and 7 I'm tying for Fourth Place, maybe also in a tie with the Violin Concerto?

8, then 9

Not sure I know them all but 3,6,7 and 5 (in that order) are my favourites.

[snyprrr]

Not sure I know them all but 3,6,7 and 5 (in that order) are my favourites.

Is that another recording of 7 on YouTube, with Davis conducting the BBC???please imbed

sounds good to me... eh?


I'm starting to hear 11 as a Masterpiece,... it's really doing it for me!!




i FEEL THIS hARRIS SPURT COMING TO AN END(whoops)....I got caught up in Cowell Symphonies....

[vandermolen]

Is that another recording of 7 on YouTube, with Davis conducting the BBC???please imbed

sounds good to me... eh?


I'm starting to hear 11 as a Masterpiece,... it's really doing it for me!!




i FEEL THIS hARRIS SPURT COMING TO AN END(whoops)....I got caught up in Cowell Symphonies....

No it is a CD with Ormandy conducting on the Albany label I think. Must listen to No. 11 again.

[The new erato]

" the tangy haze of a post-coital war"

Anybody know what this means?

[snyprrr]

" the tangy haze of a post-coital war"

Anybody know what this means?

the feel of blood and dust in the air after a brutal conflict...... donchakno!

Have any muzzie neighbors yet?? I hear the swedes are pissed that you're not taking your fair share of invaders .... errr, I mean, "asylum seekers".... excuse me, lol!! alahu akbar!!!!!!! snackbar

[snyprrr]

Symphony No.5... DISMISSED!!

Why do I do this??

Why?

It seems now that the only reason some Harris lingers is because of the OTHER works on the CD.


I almost wish i could get rid of all this.... arrgh, how did I get so mad?


OUT!!


(I know- just by bringing this Thread up, it may start another round of hand wringing... I'll take that chance)

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Symphony No.5... DISMISSED!!

Why do I do this??

Why?

Well...as a point of interest, I recently got the old Ormandy recording of #7. I find it at least as good as #3. Granted, it follows the same "gradual evolution across 1 mvt" template, so maybe he had a winning formula there.

[snyprrr]

Well...as a point of interest, I recently got the old Ormandy recording of #7. I find it at least as good as #3. Granted, it follows the same "gradual evolution across 1 mvt" template, so maybe he had a winning formula there.

I listened too to the ormandy 7 again,- this time it seemed juuust a bit long at @23 mins., with a "bunch of stuff" in the middle, but, by the end, it had a decidedly dark ending I liked. Frankly, it's much harder to follow No.7, whereas one can "sing" No.3 from start to finish. So, I was able to enjoy it again, good news!

So, yea, we're down to 3, 6, 7, and the wonderful 11. I'd like to hear 1-2 again.

[Rons_talking]

So, yea, we're down to 3, 6, 7, and the wonderful 11. I'd like to hear 1-2 again.
[/quote]

I agree that 3,6,and 7 are his strongest works. I find that Harris never gets old IF.... you space your listening out over a few months. I listen to the 3rd and 7th every 4 months or so, and they continue to sound fresh. And I've known the 3 and 7 since 1983. To my recollection I haven't heard the 11th. I'll have to find a recording out there. Suggestions?

[vandermolen]

So, yea, we're down to 3, 6, 7, and the wonderful 11. I'd like to hear 1-2 again.


I agree that 3,6,and 7 are his strongest works. I find that Harris never gets old IF.... you space your listening out over a few months. I listen to the 3rd and 7th every 4 months or so, and they continue to sound fresh. And I've known the 3 and 7 since 1983. To my recollection I haven't heard the 11th. I'll have to find a recording out there. Suggestions?

I very much agree with this view. I quite like 'Symphony 1933' too and unlike some others No.5 and 'Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight'. Think I'll listen to No.7 today.

[cilgwyn]

I like No 5! It's more reflective.less rhetorical than some of the others. His pastoral symphony?! It makes me think of big open spaces and homely farmsteads,in North America;not here;although he did have some Welsh Blood,apparently (a Welsh boy?! ). The Louisville recording is still the best one,imo. It has more atmosphere and a feel for the idiom than the flabby Naxos performance. I thought Kuchar's readings of 7 & 9 were quite good (not that I like No 9 much,anyway) and I wish he could have been able to do the other symphonies. Ormandy is on a different level though;but to Kuchar's credit,I play both! Although,to be honest,maybe (probably?) not,if the Ormandy was in stereo?! Alsop no! Mine went off to the YMCA shop. I would have thought Albany would have given us a new No 5,by now! A label that really went down hill imho!

[vandermolen]

I like No 5! It's more reflective.less rhetorical than some of the others. His pastoral symphony?! It makes me think of big open spaces and homely farmsteads,in North America;not here;although he did have some Welsh Blood,apparently (a Welsh boy?! ). The Louisville recording is still the best one,imo. It has more atmosphere and a feel for the idiom than the flabby Naxos performance. I thought Kuchar's readings of 7 & 9 were quite good (not that I like No 9 much,anyway) and I wish he could have been able to do the other symphonies. Ormandy is on a different level though;but to Kuchar's credit,I play both! Although,to be honest,maybe (probably?) not,if the Ormandy was in stereo?! Alsop no! Mine went off to the YMCA shop. I would have thought Albany would have given us a new No 5,by now! A label that really went down hill imho!

I just received their CD of George Lloyd's 5th Symphony today!

[cilgwyn]

Whoa,you're confusing me,Vandermolen! I thought I was in the wrong thread for a moment!!

[vandermolen]

Whoa,you're confusing me,Vandermolen! I thought I was in the wrong thread for a moment!!

No, my fault - Off Topic reference to Albany Records.

[cilgwyn]

No,it's okay! I was posting about Albany and Fifths & I just looked at your post and wondered whether I was in the right thread for a moment!   It will be interesting to see if George Lloyd's Fifth makes me think of "big open spaces and homely farmsteads" when I get my 3cd set of the Downes conducted set! Something along those lines,I think;albeit with some rugged Cornish cliffs and seascapes........and,erm,Star Wars,if I'm lucky!!

[vandermolen]

No,it's okay! I was posting about Albany and Fifths & I just looked at your post and wondered whether I was in the right thread for a moment!   It will be interesting to see if George Lloyd's Fifth makes me think of "big open spaces and homely farmsteads" when I get my 3cd set of the Downes conducted set! Something along those lines,I think;albeit with some rugged Cornish cliffs and seascapes........and,erm,Star Wars,if I'm lucky!!

[snyprrr]

I like No 5! It's more reflective.less rhetorical than some of the others.

And here I thought it was the most like propaganda!!- I mean, it's written for Russian soldiers, and sounds like DSCH's nephew, no?

His pastoral symphony?! It makes me think of big open spaces and homely farmsteads,in North America;not here;although he did have some Welsh Blood,apparently (a Welsh boy?! ). The Louisville recording is still the best one,imo. It has more atmosphere and a feel for the idiom than the flabby Naxos performance. I thought Kuchar's readings of 7 & 9 were quite good (not that I like No 9 much,anyway) and I wish he could have been able to do the other symphonies. Ormandy is on a different level though;but to Kuchar's credit,I play both! Although,to be honest,maybe (probably?) not,if the Ormandy was in stereo?! Alsop no! Mine went off to the YMCA shop. I would have thought Albany would have given us a new No 5,by now! A label that really went down hill imho!

There's the Koch recording of Harris 7/ Schuman 6 that they say isn't soooo bad. I may have to get it myself- the 7th is broken into Tracks, also, interesting...

[vandermolen]

There's the Koch recording of Harris 7/ Schuman 6 that they say isn't soooo bad. I may have to get it myself- the 7th is broken into Tracks, also, interesting...

It's not that great in terms of performances but I enjoy it still. Ormandy is much more urgent in both works and the Naxos Schwarz in the Schuman symphony.

[cilgwyn]

You don't seem to like the Kuchar recording of No7,Vandermolen. I'm not a musician,but it sounds good,to me,if you want a stereo recording. I don't like the Alsop recordings of Harris at all;although I was quite interested to hear the Fifth in more up to date sound............once!! After that,it was off to the charity shop for them! Very disappointing!! The Ormandy recording is on a different level of inspiration to the Kuchar. This is what great recording is all about. If only it had been in stereo;but it doesn't spoil my enjoyment. The old mono recording has plenty of atmosphere;and maybe brings out some of the harshness of those big,empty lanscapes. I must say,I can't help feeling a bit sorry for Kuchar. We can't all be Ormandy,can we?!! (Getting out my tooth brush baton! ).
I haven't heard the Koch. One or two reviews on the internet put me off aquiring it. Also,I'm quite happy with Kuchar and Ormandy. I actually like the way Kuchar builds up the tension with that big,grinding,granitic brass. And,there's the question of yet more expenditure! I think I probably will succumb to temptation eventually,however. I can just see MusicMagpie having a cheap copy. I just bought the Supraphon Chalabala (love that name!) of Dvorak's Erben inspired Symphonic poems for around £4!!!!! S/h copies go for upwards of £40!! Did they just make a mistake?!! Or did they realise that mugs like me will be sucked into spending even more of their dosh?!!
By the way,I just looked & the cheapest copy is from a Seller on my (personal;not saying anyone else shouldn't)  don't buy from list. Phew!!