Harris, Roy (1898-1979), was an American composer. He became famous for creating and promoting a distinctly American style of classical music. Harris greatly influenced such American composers as Aaron Copland and William Schuman.
Harris wrote 13 numbered symphonies for full orchestra plus 1 each for band and for chorus. His Symphony No. 3 (1939) is one of the most frequently performed of all symphonies written by American composers. Harris often used themes from American folk music in his compositions. For example, the themes of a number of American folk songs appear in his Symphony No. 4 (1940), also known as the Folk Song Symphony. One of his major works is his Symphony No. 7 (1952), which, like his Symphony No. 3, covers a broad range of expression in a single concentrated movement. He based his symphonic overture When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1935) on the American folk song of the same name. Harris also composed music for bands and chamber groups as well as choral music and works for solo piano.
Harris was born on Feb. 12, 1898, in a log cabin in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. He began his musical studies in California. From 1926 to 1929, Harris studied in Paris under the famous music teacher Nadia Boulanger. Harris died on Oct. 1, 1979.
