Subject: Am. Folksong Symph. #4, Roy Harris
From:
Mary in Kentucky
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 09:50 AM
I just heard The American Folksong Sympnony #4 on the radio and wondered how I had missed out on Roy Harris all my life. After a quick search on the DT and forum I found that many people here know another Roy Harris. (Greetings to Roy Harris thread Aug. 1999). But I'm interested in the one kat refers to in that thread;
Sounds as though Roy is a great person. When I first saw the name of this thread, I was all set to post about the great American classical composer, Roy Harris, who used folk songs in his music, in a much better way, in my opinion, than the much-touted Copland, so I didn't think it was too much of a stretch for him to appear at the Cat, except that I was wondering how we'd greet him, as he passed on years ago. I had some great stories about him, to relate, as my brother got to study with him, privately, when he went to Southern Illinois U.
...anyway, after hearing this symphony I'd like to know: Does anybody know the tunes he used in this symphony? I heard "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie"/"Streets of Laredo"/ a little "Irish Washerwoman"/ "Ten Thousand Miles"/ "Johnny Comes Marching Home"/ and I think a short snippet of "The Bird Song". I know that there must be lots more.
Regarding "The Bird Song"...The DT has a song titled "Says the Blackbird to the Crow" and the MIDI file is titled thererv6.mid. I assume that means Three Ravens. But this is not the tune I heard.
At Lesley's site , she has a song titled "The Bird Song" and says it probably derived from Child Ballad #26, The Three Ravens. This is the tune I think I heard. Anybody else know anything?
Also, the opera "Susannah" has a similar song. Anyone know of a connection?
Thanks,
Mary
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sj
