MORRIS, HAROLD (1890-1964). Harold Morris, composer and teacher, was born in San Antonio on March 17, 1890, the son of Harold and Nellie (Meyer) Morris. He earned his B.A. degree at the University of Texas. At the Cincinnati Conservatory he earned the degrees of master of music in 1922 and doctor of music in 1939. From 1922 to 1939 he taught at the Institute of Musical Art at the Juilliard School in New York City. In 1939 he joined the faculty of Teachers College at Columbia University.

In addition to teaching and composing, Morris made recital and lecture tours. He held the guest music lectureship at Rice Institute, Houston (now Rice University), in 1933. His lectures there were later published as Contemporary Music (1934). In 1939 and 1940 he gave lectures and recitals at Duke University.

Morris's compositions include three symphonies, piano and violin concertos and sonatas, chamber music, and solos. His works won the Juilliard Publication Award, the New York State and National awards of the National Federation of Music Clubs, the Publication Award of the National Association of American Composers and Conductors, the Philadelphia Music Guild Award, the Fellowship of American Composers Award, and the Award of Merit from the National Association of Composers and Conductors for service to American music. His original manuscripts are in the Texas Composers' Collection of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. Morris was a founder of the American Music Guild. From 1936 to 1940 he served as United States director of the International Society for Contemporary Music. He was a life member of the National Association of American Composers and Conductors and served as its vice president. On August 20, 1914, he married Cosby Dansby; they had one daughter. Morris died in New York City on May 6, 1964.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Alcalde (magazine of the Ex-Students' Association of the University of Texas), December 1931, November 1940. E. Ruth Anderson, Contemporary American Composers (Boston: Hall, 1982). Lota M. Spell, Music in Texas (Austin, 1936; rpt., New York: AMS, 1973).

Alice C. Cochran