It's going to be hard, no longer being able to call Donald Harris, or send an email with questions— any questions—about any music; he knew it all.
Professor Harris died last week after a protracted illness. The last time I saw him was in the Ohio theater last fall. Rossen Milanov, in his first official gesture as Music Director of the Columbus Symphony, conducted Donald's Lyric Fanfare. Because negotiating the steps to the stage were beyond the composer, the conductor jumped down, ran over to Donald's wheelchair to embrace him and lead the cheers. Rossen Milanov won my heart forever.
Donald was the long time Dean of the College of the Arts at The Ohio State University. He was Professor Emeritus of Music at the time of his death. Previously, he had held important posts at the Hartt College of Music and the New England Conservatory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_vvXKAmPAw
His artistic legacy is in the music he wrote over a long career. There are symphonies, quartets, song cycles and theater pieces. For many years, Donald Harris represented American music interests in Paris. He knew everybody, from Poulenc to Virgil Thomson to Stravinsky to Ned Rorem to Alice B. Toklas. Musically, Donald lived in a very sophisticated sphere, but he was gleeful in talking with you humble correspondent about Puccini's Tosca, which has its wonderfully trashy moments. "That was the first music of the twentieth century!" he'd tell me.
I once asked for an introduction to Ned Rorem. He told me to write Rorem a letter but to let him see it first. What resulted was a symphony of red pencil marks over three humble paragraphs. I was "requested" to re write the damned thing. I did get a response from Rorem, a kiss-off, but hand written!
I was no means a close friend, I was never officially his pupil, but in spending time with Donald I gratefully became both, if only for an hour. To know Donald was to know his wife, the incomparable Marilyn. If this town has a fine symphony orchestra, look no further than the beautiful blonde in the classy suit.
I'll miss Donald but will think of him often, even during Tosca!
A Celebration of Donald’s Life and Legacy will be held Sunday, May 1, at 2:00pm, Weigel Hall at The Ohio State University, 1866 College Rd N, Columbus, OH 43210.
