The earliest recording here, from Partch's first studio on pianist Gunnar Johansen's Northern California ranch, is The Letter, written 1943 and taped in 1950. The words were written to Partch from an old hobo friend in the 1930s, and feature Partch and some fellow players on his adapted kitharas and marimbas, whilst Partch sing-speaks the old friend's misdeeds.
Moving to an old shipyard in Sausalito in early 1953, Partch recorded his Plectra & Percussion Dances LP, of which Castor & Pollux is one of his relatively well-known pieces. A re-recording of that one would appear on his first major-label recording (link below), as would an expanded version of his Windsong film score, appearing here in a 1958 recording (it opens the CBS LP under the name Daphne Of The Dunes). While the CBS versions might offer a closer inspection of Partch's sound, the mono, lo-fi versions that appear here are wonderful to listen to in the way they capture his developing genius, recording & editing everything in his own studio.
Relocating again in the early 60s, this time to Petaluma, Partch devised the series of 23 minute-long duet & trio features for his instruments that then combined by overdubbing into quartets & quintets - all of which comprises the wonderful, 35-minute And On The Seventh Day Petals Fell In Petaluma. An engrossing, ever-changing kaleidoscope of odd sounds and rhythms, it's the definite highlight here. Like most of Partch's music, it could perhaps be seen as a sort of Western take on gamelan music - which reminds me, got a gamelan compilation for posting; will do that next week.
link
pw: sgtg
Previously posted at SGTG: The World Of Harry Partch
thank you - looking forward to digging into this as a proper introduction. Been aware of the name and some lore for decades but never really listened - your efforts are truly appreciated!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this Alan. I used to have this on vinyl, and would put 'The Letter' on pretty much every mixtape I ever did for anyone.
ReplyDeleteit always a good time for Harry Partch. For years I've hoped someone would see fit to reissue the Gate 5 albums as they were originally offered, along with Harry's program notes. I always default to the composer's wishes, esp. with someone like Partch. Much appreciated Alan.
ReplyDeleteThis album was my start with Partch. I was open-mouthed the first time (and maybe the second, fifth, and tenth). When I was a teenager, I made a mix tape for my favorite (I think eight) classical pieces, and at the end was "The Cognoscenti are Plunged into a Demonic Descent while at Cocktails". (I would have recorded "And on the Seventh Day Petals Fell in Petaluma", but it was too long.)
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite title to a piece of music has to be "A Lost Political Soul Finds Himself Among the Voteless Women of Paradise'
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