John (Harris) Harbison

Composer, born in Orange, New Jersey, USA. After studies at Harvard, Princeton, and in Berlin, he taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1969. He is admired for writing communicative music with an eclectic blend of techniques.

John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938 in Orange, New Jersey) is a composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.

Harbison won a prize for composition at the age of sixteen.

He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1987 for The Flight Into Egypt (see Discography).

The Metropolitan Opera commissioned Harbison's The Great Gatsby to celebrate Maestro James Levine's twenty-fifth anniversary with the company. The opera premiered on December 20, 1999, conducted by Levine and starring Jerry Hadley, Dawn Upshaw, Susan Graham, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Mark Baker, Dwayne Croft, and Richard Paul Fink.

Harbison was commissioned by the late Pope John Paul II to write a piece for the Vatican to be performed at the "Reconciliation Between Jews, Christians and Muslims" concert.

Harbison is the principal guest conductor for Emmanuel Music in Boston.

When asked for his "artistic Credo" Harbison (1990) replied: "to make each piece different from the others, to find clear, fresh large designs, to reinvent traditions."

He is married to violinist Rose Mary Pederson. Performed by Janice Felty, mezzo-soprano, Collage New Music Ensemble, conducted by John Harbison — Rose Mary Harbison, violin; Don't Go, Don't Go Variations, for violin, clarinet, and piano The Flight into Egypt and other works by John Harbison (1990). Performed by The Cantata Singers and Ensemble, The Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, and The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by David Hoose, John Harbison, and Andre Previn. Tracks: The Flight Into Egypt, text from the King James translation of the story of the Flight into Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew The Natural World: Prelude Where We Must Look for Help, text from Robert Bly On the Road Home, text from Wallace Stevens Milkweed, text from James Wright Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra: I. Performed by Lorraine Hunt, mezzo-soprano, Dawn Upshaw, soprano, Greenleaf Chamber Players, and Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Scott Yoo.