Harris, Roy (Leroy Ellsworth) (1898–1979)

US composer. His works, which make use of American folk tunes, include the Symphony No. 10 (1965, known as ‘Abraham Lincoln’) and the orchestral When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1935).

His father was a farmer who migrated to California during Harris's boyhood, and at 18 Harris had a farm of his own. In 1916 he enlisted to fight in World War I. In 1918 he returned to the USA and became a music student at the University of California, driving a dairy cart to earn a living. Next he studied under Arthur Farwell for two years and in 1926 produced an Andante for strings for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. The next two years were spent in Paris, France, studying with Nadia Boulanger. He returned to the USA in 1929 and later held posts at the Westminster Choir school at Princeton, New Jersey, Cornell University, Colorado, Logan (Utah), Nashville, and Pittsburgh. His most successful work was his third symphony, declaring American ruggedness at the onset of war. It was premiered under Sergei Koussevitsky in Boston in 1939.

Works Orchestral 13 symphonies (1934–76), Farewell to Pioneers (1936), and others; concerto for violin and orchestra.

Chamber and instrumental three string quartets (1930–39), sextet and quintet for wind and piano, piano quintet; pieces for violin and viola and piano; piano works, including sonatas and Children's Suite.

Choral Symphony for Voices for eight-part unaccompanied chorus.