Rare and important original handmade instrument from the American composer and instrument creator who was one of the first twentieth-century composers to work extensively and systematically with microtonal scales. He wrote much of his music for custom-made instruments that he built himself, tuned in 11-limit (43-tone) just intonation. Many of his instruments were acquired in 2014 by the University of Washington, Seattle and original examples are virtually unobtainable on the market.
Plywood percussion instrument on metal triangular stand, three drum heads with different tonal properties, 30 x 13 x 4-1/2 in., 40 in. with metal stand. Provenance: Gift from Harry Partch to his friend artist Gordon Onslow-Ford; by descent within the family. Surface scratches and dents, stand with some surface rust, overall good condition.
Harry Partch created a music that by its nature led to the invention of a fantastic array of percussion instruments. Rejecting equal temperament and much of Western musical heritage, he developed a system based on Just tuning and conceived of a “corporeality” that demanded special instrumental resources. He spoke of himself as “a musician seduced into carpentry” and built sculpture-like instruments such as the Diamond Marimba, Bass Marimba, Cloud Chamber Bowls, Spoils of War, and Quadrangularis Reversum. His music, mostly dramatic, was influenced by, among other things, Chinese lullabies, Yaqui Indian music, Christian hymns, his experiences as a hobo, Greek philosophy and drama, and jazz. His large-scale dramas required that the percussionists become actor-dancers. Among his major works are “Delusion of the Fury,” “The Wayward,” “Revelation in the Courthouse Park” and “Oedipus.”
Rare and important original handmade instrument from the American composer and instrument creator who was one of the first twentieth-century composers to work extensively and systematically with microtonal scales. He wrote much of his music for custom-made instruments that he built himself, tuned in 11-limit (43-tone) just intonation. Many of his instruments were acquired in 2014 by the University of Washington, Seattle and original examples are virtually unobtainable on the market.
Plywood percussion instrument on metal triangular stand, three drum heads with different tonal properties, 30 x 13 x 4-1/2 in., 40 in. with metal stand. Provenance: Gift from Harry Partch to his friend artist Gordon Onslow-Ford; by descent within the family. Surface scratches and dents, stand with some surface rust, overall good condition.
Harry Partch created a music that by its nature led to the invention of a fantastic array of percussion instruments. Rejecting equal temperament and much of Western musical heritage, he developed a system based on Just tuning and conceived of a “corporeality” that demanded special instrumental resources. He spoke of himself as “a musician seduced into carpentry” and built sculpture-like instruments such as the Diamond Marimba, Bass Marimba, Cloud Chamber Bowls, Spoils of War, and Quadrangularis Reversum. His music, mostly dramatic, was influenced by, among other things, Chinese lullabies, Yaqui Indian music, Christian hymns, his experiences as a hobo, Greek philosophy and drama, and jazz. His large-scale dramas required that the percussionists become actor-dancers. Among his major works are “Delusion of the Fury,” “The Wayward,” “Revelation in the Courthouse Park” and “Oedipus.”