Harry Harter - Koom Ba Yah SSA

Topic: Choral Arrangements
Harry Harter published a revision of his 1958 arrangement of “Koom Ba Yah” for women’s voices in 1960.  The key modifications are those required for the different vocal ranges of sopranos in a female group and tenors in a mixed-gender ensemble.  The highest note on the first page [1] for the SABT tenors is a D.  In the SSA arrangement, the same note for the first sopranos is an E.

The parts for male voices are the most changed: women have no equivalent voices to basses.  Their melodic line is taken over by the second sopranos while the altos follow the tenor’s basic line.

Performers
Vocal Soloist: first soprano in one section
Vocal Group: first and second sopranos, alto
Instrumental Accompaniment: piano
Rhythm Accompaniment: none

Credits
Music: Harry H. Harter
Text: based on an African Negro Spiritual
Dedication: “To the Maryville College Choir and Mabel”

© Copyright MCMLVIII, MCMLX, SHAWNEE PRESS, Inc., Delaware Water Gap, Pa.

First collected in the U. S. by Cooperative Recreation Service, Inc., Delaware, Ohio.

Notes on Lyrics
Same as SATB arrangements discussed in post for 24 September 2023.

Notes on Music
Generally the same as SATB arrangement discussed in post for 24 September 2023, with the following modifications.

Key Signature: four flats changes to no sharps or flats, then to three flats and a return to no sharps or flags

Harmonic Structure: when all three groups are singing, first sopranos generally carry the melody and second sopranos sing reverse lines with the altos repeating “koom ba yah, mah Lawd”

Notes on Performance
Cover: long African mask of face in center
Color Scheme: black ink on white paper

Audience Perceptions
A 1962 review in the Choral Journal told readers it is “an effective setting of an African Negro Spiritual.  Makes use of piano accompaniment plus a passage for solo voice or a few solo voices.” [2]

Notes on Audience
The Fontbonne Chorus of the all-girls’ Roman Catholic college in Clayton, Missouri, performed Harter’s arrangement in 1962.  “Koom Ba Yah” was the opening number.  It was described as an “African Spiritual.”

Notes on Performers
Harry Harold Harter grew up in San Jose, California, where he graduated from San Jose State College.  While a student, he began working as a tenor and arranger for The King’s Men quartet. [3]  The group had been formed in 1929, and worked for Paul Whiteman between 1934 and 1937.  When Harter joined them, they had just begun working for Fibber McGee and Molly on NBC radio. [4]

Presumably after graduation he served as a chaplain’s assistant in the Air Force from 1943 to 1946. [5]  He earned a master’s in music from the University of Nebraska in 1947, [6] and began working at Maryville College the next year. [7]

Like Varner Chance and other musicians teaching in academic schools, he probably was forced to take on other jobs to supplement a low salary. [8]  He directed the New Providence Presbyterian Church choir [9] and sold arrangements to a number of publishers beside Shawnee. [10]  Beyond income, these compositions may have been accepted as publications before he earned a PhD in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in 1961. [11]

Although Maryville College was sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (USA), [12] Harter and his wife were members of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Maryville. [13]

Availability
Sheet Music: Harry Harter.  “Koom Ba Yah.”  Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania: Shawnee Press, Inc., 1960 edition for SSA.

Concert: Harry Harter, arranger.  “Koom Ba Yah.”  Fontbonne Chorus, Clayton, Missouri, 23 March 1962.  Reported by the school newspaper, The Font, on 26 February 1962.

End Notes
1.  The copy of the SABT arrangement of “Koom Ba Yah” that I purchased on the internet is missing pages 3–6.

2.  George Gansz.  “Choral Reviews.”  Choral Journal 2(4):15:1 March 1962.

3.  Keni Lanagan.  “College Mourns Loss of Dr. Harry Harter.”  Maryville College press release, 11 August 2004.

4.  “All the King’s Men.”  Radio Life, 10 July 1940; reprinted by Return with Us Now, 19 (9):5–6:April 1994.

5.  Lanagan.
6.  “Harry Harold Harter.”  134 in Chilhowean, Maryville College yearbook, 1977.
7.  Lanagan.
8.  Varner Chance is discussed in the posts for 21 March 2021 ande 28 March 2021.
9.  Lanagan.
10.  Obituary.  McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Marysville, Tennessee, 2004.
11.  Lanagan.
12.  “Maryville College.”  Wikipedia website; accessed 30 September 2023.
13.  Lanagan.