Classical Music, Recorded

On the CD Player: Roy Harris, American Symphonist

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In celebration of the American Independence Day weekend — and because it was toward the top of the massive “yet-to-be-played” pile — I fired up a Naxos CD release of symphonic music by Roy Harris played by the Bournemouth Symphony conducted by Marin Alsop (catalogue number 8.559609).

Symphony No.6 “Gettysburg” is particularly well played, though I prefer the cragginess and vehemence Keith Clark and the Pacific Symphony brought to the work in their recording for Varèse Sarabande (now available on Albany Records). The couplings are also played terrifically: Accelerations, material from which was extended and developed for Symphony No.6, and a spirited take on Symphony No.5.

If you like Harris, you won’t be disappointed; if you’re curious about the composer beyond his Symphony No.3, this would be a solid, cost-effective way to get started.

UPDATE: Aaron Z. Snyder, via Facebook, comments:

These are indeed good recordings/performances, but I’ve been spoiled regarding the 5th Symphony by the world-premiere performance of the first version by Koussevitzky and the BSO. Aside from being an electrifying performance, the version played is so far superior to any of Harris’s later thoughts that I find it incredible that Harris would have even considered revising this work. I’ve been restoring the live performance recording of this event, and I hope that it will be ready to be released on Music and Arts fairly soon.

Aaron does astonishingly good restoration work. I can guarantee that if you like Harris, or American orchestral music in general, the forthcoming M&A will be a “must-have” item.

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