Harris: Symphonies Nos. 7 and 9.Theodore Kuchar, National Symphony Orchestra National Symphony Orchestra is used for the name of many orchestras in different countries. It may refer to the:
Naxos's American composer series goes on its way, continuing the most comprehensive survey of American classical music American classical music is music written in the United States but in the European classical music tradition. In many cases, beginning in the 18th century, it has been influenced by American folk music styles; and from the 20th century to the present day it has often been any single record label has ever attempted. The fact that the label has chosen a Ukrainian orchestra to play many of the pieces may strike one as a bit odd considering Naxos's contracts with American ensembles, but the Orchestra of Ukraine play beautifully, and I'm sure no one will mind their origins. Roy Harris Roy Ellsworth Harris (February 12, 1898 in Chandler, Oklahoma, United States - October 1, 1979), was an American classical composer. He wrote much music on American subjects, becoming best known for his Symphony No. 3. (1898-1979) wrote thirteen symphonies between 1933 and 1976, along with almost every other kind of music besides. His Seventh and Ninth derive from 1952 and 1962 respectively, and in addition (probably because the two symphonies are relatively short) the Naxos disc includes Harris's Epilogue ep·i·logue also ep·i·log n. 1. a. A short poem or speech spoken directly to the audience following the conclusion of a play. b. The performer who delivers such a short poem or speech. 2. to Profiles in Courage--J.F.K. Of the three works represented on the disc, none of which I had heard before, I found the Seventh Symphony by far the most rewarding. It is a single-movement piece lasting about nineteen minutes, developing a solitary theme from a moody, evocative opening to a rousing, energetic climax. If it hadn't been labeled a "symphony," I'd have considered it a tone poem tone poem: see symphonic poem. or possibly a set of variations, but Harris insisted it was a symphony so who's to argue. The Ninth Symphony is more conventional in its movements and more conventional in its purely American material, in this case the Preamble A clause at the beginning of a constitution or statute explaining the reasons for its enactment and the objectives it seeks to attain. Generally a preamble is a declaration by the legislature of the reasons for the passage of the statute, and it aids in the interpretation of to the Constitution and quotes from poet Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. There is a degree of sameness in the Ninth and a degree of similarity to works by other American composers like Aaron Copland and Virgil Thomson. By it final segment I felt the Ninth hadn't really gone very far, meandering a bit too leisurely for my taste. The brief Epilogue to Profiles in Courage--J.F.K., written in 1963 in commemoration of President Kennedy's assassination Assassination See also Murder. assassins Fanatical Moslem sect that smoked hashish and murdered Crusaders (11th—12th centuries). [Islamic Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 52] Brutus conspirator and assassin of Julius Caesar. [Br. and used here as a filler, is appropriately solemn but not particularly memorable. What is more remarkable is Naxos's exemplary audio throughout the three works. The orchestra is miked at a moderate distance that ensures a natural-sounding response. The stereo spread is wide, the stage depth is reproduced realistically, and the dynamic range, while not overwhelming, is impressive. The deep end does not go through the floor, but it, too, makes its presence felt in the bass drum, especially in the Seventh Symphony. This is not spectacular sound, but it does its job unobtrusively un·ob·tru·sive adj. Not undesirably noticeable or blatant; inconspicuous. un  ob·tru and commendably well.
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