Harris, Roy, 1898-1979

Commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation for the Rockefeller FIlm Project. Composed as film score 1940-41. First performance (recording for the film) New York, 21 January 1941, Roy Harris conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of One-tenth of a nation / Roy Harris. [1940?]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 226966329

Composed 1949-51. First performance Wilmington, North Carolina, 21 March 1984.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Violin concerto / Roy Harris. [19--] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 52199033

American composer.

From the description of Correspondence with Margaret Naumburg, 1940. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 63585428

From the description of Letter 1890. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 48996508

First performance 26 January 1934.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Symphony no. 1 / by Roy Harris. [1934]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 312572448

American composer and music teacher.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1960]-1986. (Ohio State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 20867935

American composer (b. Feb. 12, 1898, in Lincoln County, Oklahoma; d. Oct. 1, 1979, in Santa Monica, Calif.).

From the description of Roy Harris papers, 1893-1998 (bulk 1933-1979). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 692085362

First performance 28 February 1936.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Symphony no. 2 / Roy Harris. 1935. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 312647095

Commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra. Composed 1949. First performance Louisville, Kentucky, 5 April 1949, Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Kentucky spring / Roy Harris. [19--] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 52199056

Biographical Note

• 1898, Feb. 12: Born near Chandler, Okla. to Elmer Harris and Laura Broddle
• 1921: Studied at University of California, Berkeley
• 1924: Began studies with Arthur Farwell
• 1926: Andante for orchestra premiered by Howard Hanson and the Eastman School Orchestra
• 1926 - 1929 : Studied with Nadia Boulanger
• 1927: Premiere of Concerto for Piano, Clarinet, and String Quartet in Paris
• 1929: Completed Symphony--American Portrait 1929
• 1931: Received Creative Fellowship of the Pasadena Music and Art Association
• 1932: Joined summer faculty of The Juilliard School of Music
• 1933: Completed Symphony 1933 (Symphony no.1)
• 1934: Symphony 1933 premiered by Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Completed Symphony no. 2
• 1934 - 1938 : Began teaching at Westminster Choir School
• 1936 October: Married Beula (Johana) Duffey
• 1936: Wrote Quintet for Piano and Strings
• 1938: Completed Symphony no. 3
• 1939: Symphony no. 3 premiered by Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony
• 1939 - 1940 : Completed Folksong Symphony (Symphony no. 4)
• 1941 - 1943 : Began teaching at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
• 1941: Taught summer sessions at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• 1942: Completed Symphony no. 5 Received Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Medal "for eminent services to chamber music"
• 1943 - 1948 : Began teaching full time at Colorado College
• 1944: Completed Symphony no. 6 (Gettysburg) Elected to National Institute of Arts and Letters
• 1948 - 1949 : Taught at University of Utah, Logan
• 1950 - 1951 : Taught at Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, Tenn.
• 1951 - 1956 : Taught at Pennsylvania College for Women
• 1952: Completed Symphony no. 7
• 1956 - 1957 : Taught at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
• 1957 - 1959 : Taught at Indiana University as its distinguished Patten Lecturer
• 1958: Traveled to U.S.S.R. with a delegation of American composers sponsored by the State Department
• 1959: Organized the International String Congress, with its first session at Greenleaf Lake, Okla.
• 1959 - 1961 : Taught at Inter-American University in the newly formed International Institute of Music, San Germán, Puerto Rico
• 1961 - 1971 : Taught at University of Calif., Los Angeles
• 1962: Completed Symphony no. 8 (San Francisco Symphony) and Symphony no. 9
• 1965: Completed Symphony no. 10 (Abraham Lincoln Symphony)
• 1967: Completed Symphony no. 11
• 1968: Completed Symphony no. 12 (Pere Marquette Symphony)
• 1971 - 1976 : Taught at California State University, Los Angeles
• 1973: Roy Harris Archive founded at California State University
• 1975: Completed Bicentennial Symphony 1976 (Symphony no. 13)
• 1976: Composed final work, Rejoice and Sing
• 1979: Inducted into National Academy of Arts and Letters
• 1979, Oct. 1: Died, Santa Monica, Calif.

From the guide to the Roy Harris Papers, 1893-1998, (bulk 1933-1979), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Epithet: composer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001186.0x00012d

A contemporary of Aaron Copeland, Harris, like Copeland, often used American folk music for the melodic lines in his musical compositions. He was born in Lincoln County, Oklahoma and educated at the University of California under Arthur Farwell. Harris also studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. Along with performing and writing, he also taught at Westminster Choir College, the Julliard School of Music, Cornell University, and Colorado College, where he was head of the Music Department. Harris was a prolific composer, recognized for his individual style characterized by a harmonic union of notes. He wrote eight symphonies, a number of smaller orchestral works, many choral works, and chamber music. He died in Santa Monica, California.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1940-1979. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191916186