Harry Partch
 

Harry Partch was an American composer and instrument creator. He created some truly unique compositions, due to his invention of the Harry Partch 43-tone scale, as well as several magical sounding new instruments with which were to be performed with his compositions.

Here is a couple of them:

The Quadrangularis Reversum:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nstitute-3.jpg

The Bamboo Marambas:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nstitute-8.jpg

The Gourd Tree:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Gourd_Tree.jpg

This is the only video I could dig up - it's an interesting piece but by absolutely no means his best work. PM me for some concerts.

I'm been interested in Harry Partch since I first heard about him several years ago, but have had no idea where to start. Suggestions?

Delusion Of The Fury is where I started. It's got a very nice oriental vibe to it, as much of his music does (he likes to use bamboo alot). You might be able to find some lo-fi clips of it on youtube, but since he died so long ago and nobody is really benefiting from going through the trouble of purchasing it.... Harry Partch - Delusion Of The Fury.rar

His music is definetly challenging but it's a bit easier to get into then say, John Cages works.

Thanks man. I think you're the only other person I've ever talked to who even knows who he is!

To be fair, i've only discovered him about a week ago. And completely by accident. It actually surprises me considering the innovations he's made.

I like his piece entitled The Letter. It is a real letter that he recieved from a vagabond type of guy. There's a great cyclical accompaniment to it as well. It was recorded by Partch around 1943-44. Take a listen:



He also devised his own 43-tone scale that he used to compose music. Being a music major, I took a 20th century music history course last term and learned more about Partch. Unlike John Cage or Philip Glass, he is relatively unknown to non-musicologists and people who are not music students.

EDIT: Here's another great piece from Partch. The accompanying video is awesome:

I know who he is, I just don't regard him with anything but dull curiosity. Inventive composers are interesting but unless you actually find some appeal to listen to them it can be very difficult to digest. Same applies to John Cage.

I'd much rather listen to Edgard Varèse or Karlheinz Stockhausen if given the chance.

Delusion of the Fury was very interesting when I first heard. It's been a while, though.

Yeah, I was sad to learn of his death, but old dude was old.

He's got a piece on Gravikords, Whirlies, and Pyrophones. I can't say that I like his music, but the instruments are surely interesting.

I have DELUSION OF THE FURY, THE BEWITCHED, and the FROM THE MUSIC OF HARRY PARTCH lp. Love them all (as far as I remember).

Can anyone recommend me where to go next?

There's a BBC documentary about him that you can watch on youtube by the way: YouTube - Harry Partch - BBC Documentary - Part 1 of 6