Harry Partch

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Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy
6
American composers have long struggled against the momentum of the Western European classical tradition and the prestige it has held in America's cultural life. "I did not want to have any stricture at all, I wanted to be completely free." So spoke Harry Partch, describing not only his own path, but also that of two other influential American composers: Lou Harrison and Terry Riley. They were attracted to musical ideas and sounds outside of the surrounding classical mainstream. Together they offer a deeper understanding of what those alternatives are and how they have affected American culture.
Documentary
Making Rose Petal Jam
1

Making Rose Petal Jam

Jan 01, 1972
If you ever wondered how a simple recipe for rose petal jam could turn into a hobo dance and a diatribe about music critics, you are in for a treat.
Music Studio: Harry Partch
1
Partch takes the viewer on a tour of his Chicago home, and plays his microtonal instruments. Includes his demonstration of how the soundtrack for Windsong was made. "Music Studio" is about Partch and the many instruments he invented for the performance of his music. This is, without a doubt, the best way to begin the process of getting to know Partch, his theory of dividing the octave into 43 parts, the sounds of the instruments (and the pitches of his tuning system), and all the physical issues intimately connected with performing on those instruments. (Stephen Smoliar, The Rehearsal Studio)
Barstow
1

Barstow

Jan 01, 1981
A 1981 staged production of Harry Partch's hitch-hiker piece, Barstow.
Music
Making Rose Petal Jam
1

Making Rose Petal Jam

Jan 01, 1972
If you ever wondered how a simple recipe for rose petal jam could turn into a hobo dance and a diatribe about music critics, you are in for a treat.
Vestigios
6

Vestigios

Mar 16, 1970
Documentary about pre-Columbian art whose aesthetic and utilitarian values are intimately related to its myths and history.
Documentary
Windsong
1

Windsong

Apr 25, 1958
The ancient Greek legend of Daphne and Apollo, transported to Lake Michigan.