From Roy Harris Orchestral Work "The Third Symphony" See Its Music Creation Concepts

Roy Harris (1898.2.12—1979.10.1) was one of the most important figures in the establishment of an American symphonic music. His works reflect a broad historical and international frame of reference and, through the influence and occasional use of Anglo-American folktunes and other materials relating to the American ethos, convey a strong nationalist element as well. His music reveals a dual nature: there is the extrovert,'civic'composer whose music suggests, especially through its steady, organic growth, a visionary aspiration marked by large gestures and great thematic expanses. No doubt controversy will continue, for the musicality, breadth of vision and generosity of impulse that form his best music assure him long-term recognition."One would think, to read his prefaces,"quipped Virgil Thomson,"that he had been awarded by God, or at least by popular vote, a monopolistic privilege of expressing our nation's deepest ideals and highest aspirations."Harris's most significant contribution to the symphonic literature was his exploration of the single-movement form. Four of his symphonies (nos. 3, 7, 8 and 11) employ this design, most containing recurring melodic ideas that help create unity. In his multi-movement symphonies the tempos and characters of the individual movements sometimes correspond with those of the classical model, though the forms often differ. Roy Harris was as renowned a composer in the 1940s as any of his American contemporaries, owing to the immense popularity of his Third Symphony. During the 1920s, when the generation of young composers to which Roy Harris belonged was beginning to flex its muscles in an attempt to establish an indigenous"American"style of symphonic music, it seemed something of a paradox that most European of musical genres, the symphony, should have been so much on its collective mind. Harris always believed firmly in the idea of an international intercentury mainstream. The essay mainly set The Third Symphony as the subject to research. By means of the study in music history and music aesthetics, I analysis the music body itself and then finally managed to discover the musical concept reflected in Harris's works.The essay includes introduction, three chapters and the conclusion, five parts in all.The introduction of this essay was concerned with the academic value, the statement of researching status, ideas and methods about the topic.ChapterⅠwas about Roy Harris's life and great achievements, an introduction to Harris's life and the achievements in not only his music education but his composing as well with a brief introduction to the features of his works.ChapterⅡwas the analysis of the musical ontology about his Third Symphony. The statement of this part concerned with many aspects, such as the use of modern harmony, diverse melodies themes, the complex orchestration, the anti-traditional rhythm, the colorful timbre and his"autogenetic"principle.ChapterⅢwas a conclusion of Harris's the musical concept including the"autogenesis"musical feature and the element of American style. There is also analysis of where his musical concept come from and the influence that his musical concept has made to American professional music.