John Harbison (Symphony No. 2)

The second symphony of John Harbison was completed in 1987. His clever and personal harmonic language speaks clearly in this large-scale work through each of its descriptive movements:
Dawn
Daylight (4:41)
Dusk (8:49)
Darkness (14:38)
Performed by the San Francisco Symphony
Conducted by Herbert Blomstedt

[@dieterammann4]

Met Harbison at the US-premiere of my Piano Concerto in Boston. He is a shining example of how good composers can sometimes be very modest.

[@JRH1954]

This is a really good symphony. I didn't know about Harbison at all...was looking at composer interviews and stumbled on him. Excellent!

[@Renee2004lr]

I've met John Harbison twice: first in the early 1990's and only for a short time, second just about 4 or 5 years ago. However I have never heard any of his symphonies!! What a delight! Looking forward to hearing 1, 3, & 4.

[@mosaicclassics]

Symphony No. 4 has just been released by Chandos. It is accompanied by Steven Stucky's Concerto for Orchestra No. 2 and Carl Ruggles' Sun Treader.

[@galas062]

thank you!!!

[@morgenwanderer7430]

wonderful, profound work. Harbison has definitely something compelling to say.

[@kuang-licheng402]

nice

[@TheVisualMusicShow]

Superbly played. Love the ogre-ending. A formidable, contemporary, American composer. Perhaps my favorite.

[@judywalker3005]

Very effective compositional style!

[@nostalgicmodernist1399]

Is there a program associated with this symphony? It sounds like Harbison has a terrible morning commute. And what's with the kaiju-monster bellow at the end?

[@jaegonekim]

four Ds

[@coreylapinas1000]

Wut?