The Harry Partch Page
"The point is...whether in our schools of seriours music we shall confine ourselves to finer and still finer degrees of perfection in the "Interpretation" of past treasures, whether we shall go on devouring or unconsciously absorbing vibrating frankfurters(this is Partch's accurate description of radio) to the point of melomanical satiety at which our appetite vanishes, or whether some few of us will chuck the music school, turn off the radio, and go into the kitchen and cook ourselves a nourishing meal."
That quote was a statement first published in 1949, a full two and half decades before any significant number of other artists realized similar philosophes independently. Partch's own music was released on the independent Gate 5 label from 1953 to 1962 were only a "Symptom" of his musical endeavors.
Harry Partch began writing music at the age of fourteen. Some of these pieces included a quartet, a symphonic poem, and many short pieces. However Harry Partch became very discontent with the orthodox Western musical culture grew within him until, at the age of twenty-eight, he burned all of his scores in a large iron stove, achieving emancipation from the old ways. Partch was now free to delve into musical theories to suit his own, human needs and by the late 1920's he realized that this would require the contsruction of new instruments to bring those ideas to fruition. What helped all this was the fact Partch was familar with woodworking and common tools.
Some of Partch's musical influences he cited: Christian hymns, Chinese lullabyes, Yaqui Indian ritual, Congo ouberty, Cantonese music hall, and Okies in California Vineyards. Most of these dated from his pre-teens, from second-hand scores such as his parents, former missionaries to China, and Edison cylinder records. All of these influenced Partch's desire for a corporea; music, as opposed to abstract (the basis of Western music) which arises from pure form.
But it was through intuition Partch decided it was the spoken word that was the most fitting mode of expression for him. Though he realized music of past cultures had recognized this kind of music, Partch wrote music for harmonized spoken words for his own satisfaction, not to pick up where other cultures had left off. These works included parts for new instruments in a new scale(with forty-three tones per octave) as a vital part of this music.
Harry Partch's Music
Harry Partch's Instruments
Just Intonation
Harry Partch Page
