Harry Partch (1901-1974)

[Ken B]

Thanks for this. I'm going to sample it.

I found various bits by them on Spotify.
They play Partch really well. But it seems Partch and Harrison are vastly more interesting than the other composers they play.

[milk]

Has this already come up? Did I find this here? I think I didn't. Well, this is a really cool website where you can play Partch's instruments with your computer keyboard:

http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org/features/feature_partch.html#

[Ken B]

Has this already come up? Did I find this here? I think I didn't. Well, this is a really cool website where you can play Partch's instruments with your computer keyboard:

http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org/features/feature_partch.html#

Sigh. Does not work on my ipad. Cool that there is such a site though.

[milk]

Sigh. Does not work on my ipad. Cool that there is such a site though.

Yeah, I already tried that. Using my computer, I've been trying to "do something" with the sounds. It's pretty hard actually. Very cool site!

[Ken B]

Yeah, I already tried that. Using my computer, I've been trying to "do something" with the sounds. It's pretty hard actually. Very cool site!

Partch is the latest of my "you must be joking" composers. My first wife really though I was joking about liking Glass back in the day. I get that reaction with a lot of music I like, Balinese gamelan and ketjak, Nyman, Thomson, and now Partch. I like the reaction!  The odd thing is, I have a somewhat conservative aesthetic really, just an adventurous one. Partch is looking for new ways to be beautiful, not new ways to be ugly (Darmstadt). Fury is a gorgeous gorgeous piece of music.

[milk]

Partch is the latest of my "you must be joking" composers. My first wife really though I was joking about liking Glass back in the day. I get that reaction with a lot of music I like, Balinese gamelan and ketjak, Nyman, Thomson, and now Partch. I like the reaction!  The odd thing is, I have a somewhat conservative aesthetic really, just an adventurous one. Partch is looking for new ways to be beautiful, not new ways to be ugly (Darmstadt). Fury is a gorgeous gorgeous piece of music.

I haven't heard anything that really compares to Partch. A big part of it I suppose is that the instruments are his creation. It's a singular world. It's a marvel. Will anyone try to do anything like this? I like Ellen Fullman's music but it seems like basically one instrument and a little bit of a novelty - though very much worth checking out. But Partch creates a world of instruments and sound. Fury is spectacular. It's really inspired me. Soon I'm going to post some of the music I've created with his instrument files in my composer's thread - not that it compares. But it's a trip to see if/how the sounds offered on the website can be used. Anyway, I wonder if someone will try to do anything like this - by building instruments and an original sound world. I wonder if Partch gets his due. 

[The new erato]

I'm a great fan on the Delusion of the Fury disc as well and have reported on it in the listening thread on a couple of occasions. I also like the singing/chanting! It is in wonderfull sound as well.

[7/4]

I haven't heard anything that really compares to Partch. A big part of it I suppose is that the instruments are his creation. It's a singular world. It's a marvel. Will anyone try to do anything like this? I like Ellen Fullman's music but it seems like basically one instrument and a little bit of a novelty - though very much worth checking out. But Partch creates a world of instruments and sound. Fury is spectacular. It's really inspired me. Soon I'm going to post some of the music I've created with his instrument files in my composer's thread - not that it compares. But it's a trip to see if/how the sounds offered on the website can be used. Anyway, I wonder if someone will try to do anything like this - by building instruments and an original sound world. I wonder if Partch gets his due.

People try. I seen/heard a lot of people inspired by Partch.

[Cato]

Partch is the latest of my "you must be joking" composers. My first wife really though I was joking about liking Glass back in the day. I get that reaction with a lot of music I like, Balinese gamelan and ketjak, Nyman, Thomson, and now Partch. I like the reaction!  The odd thing is, I have a somewhat conservative aesthetic really, just an adventurous one. Partch is looking for new ways to be beautiful, not new ways to be ugly (Darmstadt). Fury is a gorgeous gorgeous piece of music.

You 'n' me both, Brother!  0:)

I haven't heard anything that really compares to Partch. A big part of it I suppose is that the instruments are his creation. It's a singular world. It's a marvel. Will anyone try to do anything like this? ... Anyway, I wonder if someone will try to do anything like this - by building instruments and an original sound world.

When you get involved in microtonality, building your own instruments is one of the few options available, next to electronics.
One saw this in the early 1900's, with double-keyboard quarter-tone pianos and even quarter-tone clarinets with double bores:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_tone_clarinet

I wonder if Partch gets his due. 

No, he does not!  If he did, many more people would know his name and his works.  It is heartening, however, to see that the music is still alive 40 + after his death years via a new generation.

[Ken B]

You 'n' me both, Brother!  0:)

When you get involved in microtonality, building your own instruments is one of the few options available, next to electronics.
One saw this in the early 1900's, with double-keyboard quarter-tone pianos and even quarter-tone clarinets with double bores:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_tone_clarinet

No, he does not!  If he did, many more people would know his name and his works.  It is heartening, however, to see that the music is still alive 40 + after his death years via a new generation.

Partch gets blame. Most microtonal music is of the "12 tones is not enough for my Fibonacci numbers centaphonic music" variety. He'd be better served by a new description, just intonation or something like that.

[Cato]

Partch gets blame. Most microtonal music is of the "12 tones is not enough for my Fibonacci numbers centaphonic music" variety. He'd be better served by a new description, just intonation or something like that.

Or by saying nothing!  I have always thought that part of the problem in getting people to accept xenharmonic music is an initial bias against anything outside our 12 tones.

To return to Harry Partch, the early years, who obviously had a melodic gift:

https://www.youtube.com/v/HSToApF6eN0

[torut]

Partch gets blame. Most microtonal music is of the "12 tones is not enough for my Fibonacci numbers centaphonic music" variety. He'd be better served by a new description, just intonation or something like that.

The term "microtonality" has too wide meaning. Any tuning systems that are different from 12 equal temperamant are called microtonal, whether it is based on natural consonance of tones or equally divided tones that are intrinsically dissonant. That was the cause of my confusion about "microtonal" music.

[Cato]

The term "microtonality" has too wide meaning. Any tuning systems that are different from 12 equal temperamant are called microtonal, whether it is based on natural consonance of tones or equally divided tones that are intrinsically dissonant. That was the cause of my confusion about "microtonal" music.

"Xenharmonic" might therefore appeal to you as a more precise term.

[Ken B]

"Xenharmonic"

What is sound of one hand clapping in B minor?

[milk]

I came across this interesting video. I don't know if anyone has posted this yet:
https://www.youtube.com/v/CfbcEa5sSIs

[torut]

I came across this interesting video. I don't know if anyone has posted this yet:
https://www.youtube.com/v/CfbcEa5sSIs

Young Partch? Very nice, thank you.
Regarding original instruments, Chas Smith may be inheriting the tradition of Partch.
"Chas Smith is a Los Angeles-based composer, performer, and instrument designer and builder who, in the spirit of Harry Partch, creates much of his music for his own exotic instruments." (Cold Blue)


This web site is interesting. (Fullman, Smith, the Aeolian harps, etc.)
Experimental Musical instruments
http://www.psychefolk.com/expmu.html

[milk]

Young Partch? Very nice, thank you.
Regarding original instruments, Chas Smith may be inheriting the tradition of Partch.
"Chas Smith is a Los Angeles-based composer, performer, and instrument designer and builder who, in the spirit of Harry Partch, creates much of his music for his own exotic instruments." (Cold Blue)


This web site is interesting. (Fullman, Smith, the Aeolian harps, etc.)
Experimental Musical instruments
http://www.psychefolk.com/expmu.html

Wow! Thanks! Fascinating stuff there! Where to begin?

[torut]

Wow! Thanks! Fascinating stuff there! Where to begin?

I like Smith's Scircura, but it is for pedal steel guitar, not for original instruments. The works for his own instruments are more experimental, sounding like ambient or sound art. Aluminum Overcast is a nice album. (clip of a track from the album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avMhfUIfA5U) Note that it is not like Partch's music, which is more colorful, grand, and fun.

[torut]

Harry Partch – how Heiner Goebbels bought Delusion of the Fury to Edinburgh

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/29/harry-partch-delusion-of-the-fury-heiner-goebbels-edinburgh

https://www.youtube.com/v/TKU0KBivZ7c

It is fantastic that there is a new performance of Delusion of the Fury, although I cannot see it. I have only listened to the recording and not watched a stage yet.

[milk]

Harry Partch – how Heiner Goebbels bought Delusion of the Fury to Edinburgh

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/29/harry-partch-delusion-of-the-fury-heiner-goebbels-edinburgh

https://www.youtube.com/v/TKU0KBivZ7c

It is fantastic that there is a new performance of Delusion of the Fury, although I cannot see it. I have only listened to the recording and not watched a stage yet.

I would give a lot to see this.