(ASCAP) A recording of works by Truman Harris, A Warm Day in Winter (Naxos 8.559858), was released on March 8, 2019. The album features six works mainly written for and performed by members of the National Symphony Orchestra and Eclipse Chamber Orchestra. Gramophone Magazine called Harris’ music “winsome and engaging,” and Music Web International wrote that the album is “hugely enjoyable.” Mr. Harris was composer-in-residence at Eclipse Chamber Orchestra (Washington, DC) 2004-2014, which premiered several of his compositions during that time. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he was commissioned to write a fanfare for the National Symphony Orchestra. The resulting work, Prelude for 12 Violas, was performed by the NSO conducted by Leonard Slatkin. Truman has finished a commission from the Kennedy Center for a variation for full orchestra based on the Paganini Caprice No. 24. Truman's variation, along with variations written by several other composers, was assembled into a new work by conductor/composer Leonard Slatkin in celebration of Slatkin's 75th birthday. The work is titled Yet Another Set of Variations (on a Theme of Paganini), and was premiered by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin, on October 12, 2019. Following the premiere were additional performances of the work by the National Symphony in December, 2019, and the Detroit Symphony in March, 2020. Mr. Harris joined the bassoon section of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC in 1973, as the orchestra's contrabassoonist. Two years later he moved to second bassoon, and later was promoted to Assistant Principal, where he remained until his retirement in 2017. He was also Principal Bassoonist of Eclipse Chamber Orchestra from its founding in 1992 until 2017 and bassoonist of the Capitol Woodwind Quintet from 1977 until the group ceased performing in 2012. Truman Harris’ performance career also included stints with the Fort Worth Symphony and Opera, the United States Air Force Band, National Musical Arts in residence at the National Academy of Sciences, and The Twenty First Century Consort. Mr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of North Texas, and a Master of Music degree from The Catholic University Of America. He also pursued part of a Master of Science degree in computer science at Marymount University. Many of Truman's works are published by Trevco Music. Synthesized versions of many of Truman's compositions are now available for listening on his YouTube Channel. A complete list of Truman's available compositions can be found here. . HOME |
