Harry Partch introducing The Bewitched, WTTW-Chicago, "Imprint", 1957
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- Harry Partch (1901-1974) with ensemble members:
Danlee Mitchell
Jack McKenzie
Thomas Gauger
Michael Donzella
WTTW-Chicago, Art Director, Bob Kostka; Producer, Richard Mansfield.
Script for the show is published in Enclosure Three: Harry Partch, by Philip Blackburn
Danlee Mitchell writes (in 2022):
The studio that the 1957 WTTW-Chicago program was held was at the WTTW TV studios
located (as I recall) in the Chicago Museum of Science (or adjacent to), just south of downtown
Chicago. This was after the 1957 THE BEWITCHED being performed on the UI campus
(rehearsals in the Fall of 56), with an immediate runout to St. Louis. Bob Kostka, the producer
of the WTTW show, was somehow acquainted with Harry, but I forget how their connection began.
Why Harry agreed to this WTTW appearance also escapes me. It only involved the Diamond Marimba, the Surrogate Kithara, and the Boo I, playing a pared-down version of a scene from BW, plus a few dancers rendering some abstract choreography. This production was but a minor foray involving Harry and a scaled down version of a scene from BW. But it did give Harry an opportunity to
explain himself verbally.
As far a traveling up to WTTW-Chicago from Champaign-Urbana, as I recall it was accomplished
all in one day--drive up, unload, rehearse, shoot, load up, and drive back. I recall Tom Gauger
and myself driving the instruments used up and back in a university truck. Most probably
Jack McKenzie drove himself, Harry, and Mike Donzella up in a university car. In the end--
yes--it was “rinky-dink”, and presents a very incorrect impression concerning BW, and
Harry’s vision of it.
This, Oedipus Rex, Harry's Wake, and Bless This Home are some of my most favorite compositions ever. Partch is a lost treasure and I pity the man who has not heard these works.
Thank you posting this absolute gem.
❤
It’s a good thing this little film survived - otherwise how could anyone possibly describe Partch’s work?
Thanks for sharing it.
Never mind describing it. If the video had survived, no one would have ever believed anyone in American TV would have let Harry Partch do THIS! My question is, why don't they have things like this on PBS now?! (and yes, I know this predates PBS by over a decade, but it's public television, same concept).
Wow, what a great find! Harry Partch was a hero of my adolescence, and I managed to hear his group (but without him) in the early 70's. A real pioneer of just intonation.
Love it
Dog-gone crazy beatniks!
Amazing. Do you have the names of the dancers?
The only dancer's name we know is Kim, who was apparently an Indonesian dancer living in Chicago at the time.
❤