Roy Harris's Third Symphony

2007 was the centennial year for my native state, Oklahoma, and before it fades away, I wanted to mention a recent post by Robert Gable. Gable writes, that "I personally, subjectively, non-rationally prefer Harris' Symphony No. 3 to anything by Adams or Reich. Of course, numbers 2 thru 24 are all Adams and Reich (with #25 Lara Downes playing Harris' American Ballads)."

Gable talks about the work as if it's a guilty pleasure. I like it, too (there's a cheap recording easily available.)

Harris was an Oklahoma native, although I don't remember hearing anything about him when I lived there, even when I took a classical music appreciation class at the University of Oklahoma.

Harris biography here.

Robert Gable's minimalism discoveries

Robert Gable, who combines a nose for news with a work ethic that puts me to shame, alertly spots a new recording of Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" which has cropped up on Emusic.
Gable's minireview: "West Michigan rocks. Well, at least the Grand Valley State New Music Ensemble does."

Gable also discovered that Pandora is supporting classical music and has created a new John Adams radio station.