Chorale for Strings

This chorale, the second movement of Roy Harris' unpublished Concerto for String Sextet (1932), was premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1933, Artur Rodzinski conducting. In the program notes, Harris cites the hymn singing of pioneers on the frontier as inspiration for this "chorale for strings." Harris' beautiful themes and lush harmonies and orchestration create a stunning if little known work for string ensemble.