Harry Partch

Partch composed with scales dividing the octave into 43 unequal tones derived from the natural harmonic series; these scales allowed for more tones of smaller intervals than in standard Western tuning, which uses twelve equal intervals to the octave. To play his music, Partch built many unique instruments, with such names as the Chromelodeon, the Quadrangularis Reversum, and the Zymo-Xyl. Partch described his music as "corporeal" (emphasizing its physical/visceral elements), and distinguished it from abstract music, which he perceived as the dominant trend in Western music since the time of J.S. Bach, whose seminal book of preludes and fugues called The Well-tempered Clavier (in German, Das wohltemperierte Klavier) is often cited as the pivot point beyond which older mean-tone and ancient just intonation tunings were abandoned (in the late-18th century) and the then-future of Western Classical (and popular) instruments were (and most are still) based, for exploitation of all 24 theoretical key signatures. Partch's earliest compositions were small-scale pieces to be intoned with simple folkloric-like string instrumental backing; his later works were large-scale (like a fusion of theater and music decidedly related to but quite apart from Wagnerian opera), they were integrated theater productions in which he expected each of the performers to sing, dance, speak, and play instruments in a "corporeal apotheosis". Ancient Greek theatre and Japanese Noh and kabuki heavily influenced Harry Partch's music theatre.
Encouraged by his mother, Partch learned several instruments at a young age. By fourteen, he was composing, and in particular took to setting dramatic situations. He dropped out of the University of Southern California's School of Music in 1922, dissatisfied with the quality of his teachers. He took to self-study in San Francisco's libraries, where he discovered Hermann von Helmholtz's ''Sensations of Tone'', which convinced him to devote himself to music based on scales tuned in just intonation. In 1930, he burned all his previous compositions in a rejection of the European concert tradition. Partch frequently moved around the US. Early in his career, he was a transient worker, and sometimes a hobo; later he depended on grants, university appointments, and record sales to support himself. In 1970, supporters created the Harry Partch Foundation to administer Partch's music and instruments. Provided by Wikipedia
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 3. by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New York, NY : New World Records, 2005Other Authors: “…Partch, Harry, 1901-1974…”
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Enclosure five : on an ancient Greek theme by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
St. Paul, MN : Innova/American Composers Forum, 1998Other Authors: “…Partch, Harry, 1901-1974…”
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 3. by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New York, N.Y. : CRI, 1997Other Authors:Call Number: Loading…
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17 lyrics of Li Po by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New York, N.Y. : Tzadik, 1995Call Number: Loading…
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Bitter music : collected journals, essays, introductions, and librettos by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
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Delusion of the fury : a ritual of dream and delusion by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
Wien : Wergo, 2022Other Authors: “…Partch, Harry, 1901-1974…”
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U.S. highball [a musical account of Slim's transcontinental hobo trip (1943)] by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New York : Nonesuch, 2003Call Number: Loading…
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Genesis of a music; monophony: the relation of its music to historic and contemporary trends; its philosophy, concepts, and principles; its relation to historic and proposed intona... by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
Madison, Univ. of Wisconsin Press, 1949Call Number: Loading…
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 3 by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New York, NY : New World Records, 2005Other Authors: “…Partch, Harry, 1901-1974…”
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 2 by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
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Delusion of the fury : a ritual of dream and delusion by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
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Barstow : eight hitchhiker inscriptions from a highway railing at Barstow, California (1968 version) by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
Madison, Wis. : Published for the American Musicological Society by A-R Editions, 2000Call Number: Loading…
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The bewitched by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 1. by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New York, N.Y. : Recorded Anthology of American Music, Inc., 2004Other Authors:Call Number: Loading…
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 2. by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 4. by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
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Plectra and percussion dances by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New Rochelle, NY : Bridge Records, 2014Other Authors: “…Partch, Harry, 1901-1974…”
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The world of Harry Partch. by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
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Delusion of the fury : [a ritual of dream and delusion] by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
St. Paul, Minn. : Innova Recordings : American Composers Forum, 1999Call Number: Loading…
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The Harry Partch collection. Volume 2. by Partch, Harry, 1901-1974
New York, NY : New World Records, 2004Other Authors:Call Number: Loading…
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