Harris: Symphony No. 7, William Schuman: Symphony No. 6

Roy Harris (Composer), William Schuman (Composer), New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra, Conductor), Hugh Keelan (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
• Composer: Roy Harris, William Schuman
• Audio CD (November 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Int'l Classics
• ASIN: B00005NG5D
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #615,564 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Harris: Symphony No. 7: Tempo gusto, half note=50-55

2. Harris: Symphony No. 7: dotted half note = 80

3. Harris: Symphony No. 7: quarter note = 100

4. Harris: Symphony No. 7: dotted half note = 80

5. Schuman: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60: half note = 50

6. Schuman: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60: Moderato con moto; quarter note = 96

7. Schuman: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60: Leggeramente; quarter note = 192

8. Schuman: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60: Adagio; quarter note = 60

9. Schuman: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60: quarter note = circa 120

10. Schuman: Symphony No. 6, Op. 60: Presto; quarter note = 104

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars America's best from New Zealand, November 21, 2001

By 

Brian Ferrell (Jasper, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harris: Symphony No. 7, William Schuman: Symphony No. 6 (Audio CD)

Though the performances do not equal those 50+year -old ones from Ormandy, these performers are to be saluted for their valiant efforts. It was wonderful to hear Harris's brilliant orchestrations in modern sound. The sad part is that in this country (USA) that spends countless billions and billions of dollars on cheap entertainment (football, baseball, pop "music", etc.) it takes a NEW ZEALAND orchestra to record two of our greatest symphonies. Sad.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and Valid!, May 11, 2003

By 

Musician "angrylemur" (West Point, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harris: Symphony No. 7, William Schuman: Symphony No. 6 (Audio CD)

The challenge in performing or recording any work already done by a master conductor is ever present. One could choose to perform it exactly the way it has been done before but that would make it an insincere and bad imitation of said work. After careful study and musical decision making resulting in a sincere attempt to realize a composer's work, mixed with fine musicians doing what they do best it becomes valid and worth hearing. This recording not only does that but is pleasing to hear. As a strong Harris fan I enjoy this recording of this symphony and count it among my top favorites of all his recorded symphonies - and I have them all. I applaud this conductor and orchestra for championing the work of a composer such as Harris. Well done!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite what it could have been, but not a disaster either, January 23, 2008

By 

Paul Pellay (Canterbury, Kent United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harris: Symphony No. 7, William Schuman: Symphony No. 6 (Audio CD)

These are two of the truly great American symphonies, and I would truly like to welcome this release with open arms. Given the performances, though, my rapture is somewhat modified.
The Harris gets the better performance: Keelan's grasp of this tightly-structured symphony is on a level with Ormandy, with the advantage of modern sound, and while the New Zealanders may not be quite on the same level as those fabulous Philadelphians, they do the work proud nonetheless.
Ormandy also recorded the Schuman, and here I feel the older conductor decisively rules the roost. It's not that Keelan's a bad performance, it's just that it all feels a little too careful and well-mannered, which is damaging in a work such as this, which really should live far more dangerously than it does here. Nothing's terribly wrong with the performance per se: again the New Zealanders perform admirably, and again the sound adds an impact to Schuman's highly charged symphonic argument which is anything but negligible. But with Ormandy there's a do-or-die intensity which Keelan hardly even hints at here.
For all that, though, the CD is still worth acquiring. The Harris is excellent, and as for the Schuman, it will do as a fairly good stopgap until Gerard Schwarz gets around to it on Naxos.