Harry Partch
About Harry Partch
I wouldn’t mind slipping into the skin and bones of [composer] Harry Partch. One of our greatest, pioneering artists, who is rarely given the respect, let alone the appreciation, that he so richly deserves. (Johnny Depp)
Harry Partch was born in Oakland, California as son of missionary parents on 24 June 1901. Largely self-taught, he enhanced his skills as instrument maker and developed during the 1920s and 1930s his own theory of music. Taking his authority from the Greeks, he argued for music as a ’corporeal’ rather than an intellectual art. He used the natural intervals of just intonation and built his own percussion and wind instruments for this purpose in a 43-note scale.
His own major works were dramatic, their drama enhanced by the striking presence of his instruments. Largely ignored by standard musical institutions, he criticised concert traditions, the roles of performer and composer, the role of music in society, the twelve-tone equal-temperament scale and the concept of pure or abstract music. To explain his ideas, he wrote "Genesis of a music".
Between 1930 and 1972, Partch, who held no teaching appointments, but had research posts at the universities of Wisconsin, Illinois, and California, created music dramas, dance theatre, vocal music and chamber music - mostly performed on instruments he built himself.
His compositions combine American folklore, African and Oriental literature, and mystical and pre-Christian magical thoughts, laced with parody, satire, studied naivety, and irony.
His works received wide attention only late in his life, largely as a result of a performance of Delusion of the Fury in 1969. The influence of his music, however, on other composers has been profound and unabating, as is evident in the works of composers experimenting with just intonation, in mixed-media works since the 1960s, and in the percussive motor-rhythmic music of the minimalists.
Harry Partch died in San Diego on 3 September 1974.
For further information please visit the Harry Partch website www.corporeal.com
Worklist
Products
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23 One-Minute Duets which later become 5 Quartets, 3 Sextets and 1 OctetComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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23 One-Minute Duets and Trios which later become 10 Quartets and Quintets and 1 SeptetComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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23 One-Minute Duets which later become 5 Quartets, 3 Sextets and 1 OctetComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, facsimile editionInstrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 22538Product TypeIn stockAs low as €17.99Incl. Tax
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23 One-Minute Duets and Trios which later become 10 Quartets and Quintets and 1 SeptetComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Instrumentation: ensembleProduct number: ED 22730Product TypeIn stockAs low as €17.99Incl. Tax -
Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow, CaliforniaComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, facsimile editionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Barstow
Instrumentation: voices and instrumentsProduct number: ED 22758Product TypeIn stockAs low as €13.99Incl. Tax -
Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow, CaliforniaComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voices and instrumentsLanguage: English
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Poem by Vincenzo ProckeloComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionInstrumentation: voice and ensembleProduct number: ED 9329Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax
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Poem by Vincenzo ProckeloComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voice and ensembleLanguage: English
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A Dance for the Twin Rhythms of Gemini (2nd Version, 1968)Composer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile editionInstrumentation: ensembleProduct number: ED 22729Product TypeIn stockAs low as €20.99Incl. Tax
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A Dance for the Twin Rhythms of Gemini (1st Version 1952))Composer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile-editionInstrumentation: 6 dancers and instrumental ensembleProduct number: ED 9352Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax
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A Dance for the Twin Rhythms of Gemini (2nd Version, 1968)Composer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 6 dancers and instrumentalensemble
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A Dance for the Twin Rhythms of Gemini (1st Version, 1952)Composer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 6 dancers and instrumental ensemble
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Soundtrack for Madeline Tourtelot’s film “Windsong”Composer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile editionInstrumentation: ensembleProduct number: ED 9330Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax
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Soundtrack for Madeline Tourtelot’s film “Windsong”Composer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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Final Two Pragraphs from Thomas Wolfe’s “God’s Lonely Man”Composer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile editionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Dark Brother
Instrumentation: voice and ensembleProduct number: ED 9333Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
Final Two Pragraphs from Thomas Wolfe’s “God’s Lonely Man”Composer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voice and ensembleLanguage: English
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A Ritual of Dream and DelusionComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, facsimile editionSeries: Delusion of the Fury
Product number: ED 9334Product TypeIn stockAs low as €46.99Incl. Tax -
A Ritual of Dream and DelusionComposer: Harry PartchOrchestra/ensemble: Ensemble MusikfabrikMedia Type: CDProduct number: WER 68712In stock€24.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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A Ritual of Dream and DelusionComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialLanguage: English
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for voices, choir and ensembleComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionInstrumentation: Solo Parts, Choir and InstrumentsProduct number: ED 9335Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax
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for voices, choir and ensembleComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voices, choir and ensembleLanguage: English
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Dance Music for an Absent DramaComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionSeries: Even Wild Horses
Instrumentation: ensembleProduct number: ED 9337Product TypeIn stockAs low as €24.99Incl. Tax -
Dance Music for an Absent DramaComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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Music-Dance-DramaComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Oedipus
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 9338Product TypeIn stockAs low as €60.99Incl. Tax -
Music-Dance-Drama
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after "The Bacchae“ by EuripidesComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionInstrumentation: soloists, choir and orchestraProduct number: ED 9339Product TypeIn stockAs low as €54.99Incl. Tax
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after „The Baecchae“ by EuripidesComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: solo parts, choir and orchestraLanguage: English
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A Dance Fantasm for Here and NowComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile-EditionInstrumentation: spoken voice and ensembleProduct number: ED 9340Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax
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A Dance Fantasm for Here and NowComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: spoken voice and ensemble
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Ballad for GymnastsComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionInstrumentation: soprano, choir and chamber orchestraProduct number: ED 9341Product TypeIn stockAs low as €14.99Incl. Tax
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Ballad for GymnastsComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, choir and orchestra
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for two voices, chromelodeon and adapted violaComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Performing score, Facsimile editionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Instrumentation: 2 Voice Parts, Adapted Viola and ChromelodeonProduct number: ED 9336Product TypeIn stockAs low as €18.99Incl. Tax -
A Collection of Small Compositions Written or Rewritten in Summer 1955Composer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile-EditionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Summer 1955
Instrumentation: bass, low female voice, 2 high sopranos and ensembleProduct number: ED 9353Product TypeIn stockAs low as €17.99Incl. Tax -
A Collection of Small Compositions Written or Rewritten in Summer 1955Composer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: bass, low female voice, 2 high sopranos and ensembleLanguage: English
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A Ballet SatireComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile-EditionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Instrumentation: female voice and ensembleProduct number: ED 22808Product TypeIn stockAs low as €18.99Incl. Tax -
A Dance SatireComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-EditionInstrumentation: voice (weiblich), dancers and orchestraProduct number: ED 9354Product TypeIn stockAs low as €53.99Incl. Tax
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A Dance SatireComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: singers, dancers and orchestra
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A Ballet SatireComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: female voice and ensemble
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A Study in LovingComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Faksimile-PartiturInstrumentation: speakers, singers and orchestraProduct number: ED 9343Product TypeIn stockAs low as €14.99Incl. Tax
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A Study in LovingComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: speakers, singers and orchestra
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A Depression Message from a Hobo FriendComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile-editionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
The Letter
Instrumentation: voice and ensembleProduct number: ED 22288Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax -
A Depression Message from a Hobo FriendComposer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: voice and ensembleLanguage: English
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Spoken Expression by Cantor Reuben Rinder of San FranciscoComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Vocal and performing score, Facsimile-EditionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Instrumentation: Voice, Chromelodeon, KitharaProduct number: ED 9344Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
A Collection of musical compositons based on the spoken and written words of hobos and other characters - the result of my wanderings in the western partComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile-EditionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
The Wayward
Instrumentation: baritone, bass and orchestraProduct number: ED 9345Product TypeIn stockAs low as €30.99Incl. Tax -
A collection of musical compositons based on the spoken and written words of hobos and other characters - the result of my wanderings in the western part of the United States from 1935-1941Composer: Harry PartchMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: baritone, bass and orchestraLanguage: English
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A collection of musical compositions based on the spoken and written words of hobos and other characters - the result of my wanderings in the Western part of the United States 1935-1941Composer: Harry PartchInterpreter: Dean Drummond | Stephen Kalm | Robert OsborneConductor: Dean DrummondOrchestra/ensemble: NewbandMedia Type: CDProduct number: WER 66382In stock€18.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Text by James JoyceComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Performing score, Faksimile-EditionInstrumentation: Voice Part (Sopran) and 2 FlutesProduct number: ED 9346Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Harry PartchEdition: Performing score, Faksimile-EditionInstrumentation: Harmonic Canon II and bass MarimbaProduct number: ED 9347Product TypeIn stockAs low as €4.99Incl. Tax
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for baritone, bass and orchestraComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Performing score, Facsimile-EditionSeries: The Harry Partch Edition
Instrumentation: baritone, bass and orchestraProduct number: ED 23091Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax -
An Intermission with Prologues and EpiloguesComposer: Harry PartchEdition: Study score, Facsimile EditionInstrumentation: OrchestraProduct number: ED 9348Product TypeIn stockAs low as €46.99Incl. Tax