Harry Partch - The Music Of Harry Partch (1989 compi, rec. 1950-67)

Some more unique music from the master instrument builder and microtonal composer, Harry Partch (see link below for a late-60s CBS recording).  This compilation collects some of Partch's earliest recordings, mostly with his "Gate 5 Ensemble" - apparently often just Partch himself playing all the instruments in overdub - released on his own Gate 5 Records label.

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.

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pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG: The World Of Harry Partch

Harry Partch - The World of Harry Partch (1969)

Something truly unique today.  Californian composer, theorist and musician Harry Partch (1901-1974) not only rejected Western tonal music, but inspired by just intonation (which he considered to be the true and suppressed form in which music was organised since antiquity) he devised a 43-tone scale and an arsenal of bespoke instruments to perform his works.  This was his first major-label release - the original liner notes are worth reading in full to gain more of an insight into Partch's musical worldview, and can be found here.

Three wonderful, life-affirming examples of Partch's music are featured here.  The 17-minute Daphne Of The Dunes, originally the soundtrack to a short film called Windsong (1958), moves through multiple short segments.  Some are highly percussive and gamelan-esque, and others focus on the shimmering, resonating multiple strings of his bespoke zithers, or 'kitharas'.

Partch also believed that music, dance and theatre shouldn't be distinct specialties, and the second track here creates a Beat-era dramatic narrative in 9 minutes.  This piece, its full title Barstow: Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow, California, introduces each scene with a little marimba melody before each fascinating slice of life is recited and then sung.  Finally, Castor & Pollux is an absorbing 16 minutes of bell-chime melodies and various kithara and marimba workouts, and more of a rhythmic drive overall reflecting its purpose as a theatre/dance piece.  Highly recommended. 

This CD adds 16 bonus tracks of Partch demonstrating his instruments, which is worth a listen to get more understanding of the unique sounds in his works; "The Instruments Of Harry Partch" was originally included as part of his "Delusion Of The Fury" 3LP set in 1971.

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