CCCLXXIII. HARRIS, Roy: Symphony #5

CCCLXXIII. HARRIS, Roy (1898-1979)

Symphony #5 (1942-43; rev. 1945)
1. I. (4:39)
2. II. (10:34)
3. III. (8:20)
The Louisville Orchestra
Robert Whitney, cond.

Harris, at the piano

Dedicated to The heroic and freedom-loving people of our great ally, the Union of Soviet Republics ...

Studied with Nadia Boulanger 1926-29.

**

First Movement

A call-to-arms in the horns, a three-note motif reminiscent of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony (see Post XIV). This develops into scale passages and broken-chord figures.

A change to 5/8 adds great variety to the movement, which is beautifully orchestrated.

Second Movement

A tragic funeral march leads to middle section with strings, with a beautiful violin melody. Large intervallic characterize the constantly shifting musical landscape. The violin melody finally leads into a chorale-like section where the brass and strings exchange passages.

Third Movement

The strings and brass again trade off. After a change in tempo and key, a fugal passage with trumpets and winds contrast with the quieter string section. The symphony -- of course -- ends heroically.