Harry Partch (1901-1974) was an American composer, theorist,
instrument maker and performer. He
developed an approach to intonation called “monophony.”
Partch adapted and constructed new instruments and trained performers.
He lived as a transient at times during the Depression and recorded his
experience in diaries. His life and
his music continues to be of interest to scholars and performers.
The Harry Partch Archive at Sprague Library contains over 100
items including: audiocassette; books, CD recordings; clippings; correspondence;
LPs (including some signed by Partch); photographs; posters; and videotapes.
MONOGRAPHS
Ewen, David. Composers
of Tomorrow's Music; A Non-technical Introduction to the Musical Avant-garde
Movement. New York, NY: Dodd, Mead,
1971.
ML197.E85
Gilmore, Bob. Harry
Partch: A Biography. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998.
ML410.P176 G55 1998
Partch , Harry; edited by Richard Kassel. Barstow: Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions
from a Highway Railing at Barstow, California (1968 version). Madison, WI: Published for the American Musicological Society by A-R Editions,
2000.
M2.3.U6 R4 v.39 facsim.
M2.3.U6 R4 v.39
Partch, Harry. Bitter
Music: Collected Journals, Essays, Introductions, and Librettos; edited
with an introduction by Thomas McGeary.
Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1991.
ML410.P176 A3 1991
Partch, Harry. Genesis
of a Music; An Account of a Creative Work, Its Roots and Its Fulfillments.
2d ed. New York, NY: Da Capo Press,
1974. Also 1979.
ML1400.P3 1974
ML1400.P3 1979
Partch, Harry, [produced by] Philip Blackburn. Harry Partch. Saint Paul, MN:
American Composers Forum, 1997.
ML410.P176 H37 1997
COMPACT DISCS
Partch,
Harry. Dance of the Seven Veils
[sound recording]. Berkeley, CA: Music & Arts, 1996.
Performed by Newband.
Compact
Discs no.1478
Partch, Harry. Enclosure
Two. Saint Paul, MN: Innova, 1995.
Various performers.
Compact Discs no.1469
Partch, Harry. The
Harry Partch Collection. Volume 2 [sound recording]. New York, NY: CRI, 1997.
In the 1st work: Thomas Coleman, voice; Gate 5 Ensemble (Evanston); Jack
McKenzie, conductor. In the 2nd and 3rd: the composer, voice and instruments;
with Danlee Mitchell, Elizabeth Gentry (2nd work), other instrumentalists (3rd
work). In the 4th: Harry Partch Ensemble; Danlee Mitchell, director. In the
5th: Gate 5 Ensemble; the composer, director.
Compact Discs no.1273
Partch, Harry. Microtonal
Works [sound recording]. Kew
Gardens, NY: Mode, 1990. Performed by
Newband; Dean Drummond, conductor.
Joan La Barbara, voice (4th work).
Compact Discs no.1476
Partch, Harry. Microtonal Works, 2
[sound recording] New York, NY: Mode, 1994.
Performed by Newband.
Compact Discs no.1477
LPs
Partch, Harry. The
Rose; The Wind; The Waterfall; The Intruder; I am a Peach Tree; A Midnight
Farewell; Before the Cask of Wine; The Street; The Dreamer that Remains. Music of changes. Part III; Part IV / John
Cage. New York, NY: New World Records,
1978. Harry Partch, "intoning
voice" and various instruments, with other speakers, singers, and
instrumentalists; Jack Logan, conductor (in the 9th work); David Tudor, piano
(10th & 11th works).
Record no.1429
Partch, Harry. The
World of Harry Partch. Columbia
[1969]. Ensembles of instruments
developed by the composer, the 2d work with narration by the composer and John
Stannard; Danlee Mitchell, conductor.
Record no.1428
VIDEOS
The
Dreamer That Remains a Portrait of Harry Partch. Producer, Betty Freeman; directed by Stephen
Pouliot. Eugene, OR: New Dimension
Media, Inc. [distributor], 1989. Harry
Partch, with various musicians.
Presents a biographical and musical portrait of Harry Partch.
Videotape no.4903
Harry Partch, Enclosure One: Four Films. By Madeline Tourtelot ; with music by Harry
Partch. Saint Paul, MN: Innova
Recordings, 1995. First and 4th items
short films; 2nd shows Harry Partch in his studio demonstrating a number of his
instruments ; 3rd incorporates a performance of his U.S. Highball.
Videotape no.5578(volume/s: guide)
Videotape no.5578 (videotape)
Harry Partch: