Harry Partch Documentary-The Outsider
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2014
- Harry Partch (June 24, 1901 -- September 3, 1974) was an American composer, music theorist, and creator of musical instruments. He was one of the first 20th-century composers in the West to work systematically with microtonal scales. He built custom-made instruments in these tunings on which to play his compositions, and described his theory and practice in his book Genesis of a Music (1947 and 1974).
Partch composed using scales of unequal intervals in just intonation, derived from the natural Harmonic series; these scales allowed for more tones of smaller intervals than in the standard Western tuning, which uses twelve equal intervals to the octave. Partch divided the octave into 43 unequal tones. To play this music, he built a large number of unique instruments, with names such as the Chromelodeon, the Quadrangularis Reversum, and the Zymo-Xyl. Partch described his own music as corporeal, and distinguished it from abstract music, which he perceived as the dominant trend in Western music since the time of Bach. His earliest compositions were small-scale pieces to be intoned to instrumental backing; his later works were large-scale, integrated theater productions in which he expected each of the performers to sing, dance, speak, and play instruments. Ancient Greek theatre and Japanese Noh and kabuki heavily influenced his music theatre.
Disclaimer- Copyright Infringement not intended."I do not own this documentary", or "I don't take credit for the content" BBC" deserve all the credit for this documentary. - Hudba
The University of Washington now has the complete collection of Harry Partch's instruments and will periodically perform his pieces.
If that's the case then just maybe they can invent The Harry Partch syllabus one day for children and adults.
I just emailed them to see if I can photograph them
@@firstpogo did they let you?
As in Washington State??? I need to go there and see them immediately
@@KyndalTheMeister UW in Seattle (:
'lived & studied with Partch for a few weeks before he died = amazing musical genius !!!
do tell more if can
Such amazing experience! I found a Harry Partch cassette 27 years ago and I love it since. Now my 7 years old daughter loves The Dreamer That Remains, asks me for it and sings along!
Thank you.
A true maverick in every sense of the word!
I'd like a Harry Partch statue built in every kid's playground!
I went to 530 East Lemon Avenue in Monrovia in 1998. The house owner claimed never to have heard of Partch, but they have provided "handouts" to those in need.
I remember the old LA classical station KFAC play "Barstow" in 1973, apparently not realizing that it had lots of FCC no-nos. The announcers came on afterwards chucking and saying "those were great lines about trucks, right?"
"Harry Partch died a nomadic hobo": YES! Right up my alley
Great respect for a creative giant,if Tom Waits loves him,who am i to question that?
This story needs to be an opera.
He was a free spirit.
An uncommon type of man these days.
An amazing man in every way. The strength and fortitude it took to live life as he did staggers the imagination. Genius? There needs to be a new word created for what this man was. He has a place on MY team, and a starter at that. Astonishing.
he was and is an iconoclast, little past Genius
"The Rivers of Babylon" has become one of my all time faves, but as Glass correctly noted, it takes a few listens to get into him! You have to unlearn a lot.
Thanks,
Got here from a reference Tom Waits made..Love nothing more than getting turned to a genius that I've been unaware of. Always joy with realization of what one's been lacking far too long. Ignorance accepted: Unknown familiarity defined.
I've never come close to understanding what I was listening to with Partch but always enjoyed it nonetheless. I think I have 4 albums on vinyl, 3 of which I had to order back in the day. I'm a percussion freak so how can you not love his instruments.
A fascinating man,really, he was a true anarchist in the conservative world of "so called" serious music. I love his looseness and breaking the rules. Tom Waits spoke about Harry in a interview that i saw,i became infected in a good way. Hail genious
love his work!!
I'm only now aware of Harry's work from reading a quote from Captain Beefheart circa 1975....
So glad that someone bothered to upload this. Fascinating.
Absolutely spellbinding.
This is one outside Master if I ever saw one! Very inspiring documentary.
I consider Harry Partch the only Beat composer. There were Beat poets, notably Ginsberg, and Beat novelists, notably Kerouac, but in music that movement produced only one major artist, and he was Harry Partch.
Baribrotzer What about Moondog?
thats a blunt statement. so you claim to know all composers in the world? His whole thing was that he doesn't like to be put in a box. Beat writers embraced this idea (well ginsberg did at least, neither burroughs or kerouac were found of this idea) but it had a big following of the younger generation.
Paul Simon's latest album brought me here. Nice to revisit Mr. Partch's singular and beautiful vision again.
Thanks a lot for the video. I've never heard of Partch before and I greatly appreciate the inspiration and information that I got from this video about him. Seriously. Keep it up.
IK
There was this duo from Quebec called Dionne-Brégent, consisting of percussionist Vincent Dionne and keyboardist Georges Michel Brégent. Vincent used a lot of percussion that resembled what Harry Partch used, almost as if he bought them off Harry's estate sale, or bought them off Harry when he was still alive (not sure, though). However this duo had an electronic/prog rock bent to their music that I could imagine wouldn't endear to Mr. Partch (had he lived) in the least although they made great music. They released two albums with Et Le Troisième Jour in 1976 and Deux in 1977, on Capitol Records.
I like how he describes the achievment of his music 35:48 in collaboration with other arts, specifically film.
just started studiying cultural studies and this is such an eye opener
Utterly awsome! Amazing music, stunning and totally original.
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A very interesting documentary. His music is eye opening to say the least.
Beautiful..
I liked it. If you don't... then just don't watch it.
very cool documentary !
Behind the locked chapel on the hill,
Among rank poppies and pink zubuli flowers
And yellow daisies, thining of time and change
I lay flat to the sun:
The stone hills beyond looked on my stillness
Burnt with a clean Greek noon,
And the wind and flies toyed with my still flesh,
And there was no sound but of the whining
Of flies and wind, no sound from the sea below
Or the fat clouds above
- only the sudden
Ticking of a lizard in the ruined wall,
And the changing warmth of the sun,
And me lying there thinking of time and change.
- John Moffitt."The Living Seed". Poems. pg. 66
Arielle Lemons - Reminds me of Tarkovsky's Stalker... who (in the film) meditates by lying on the ground until bugs start crawling over him.
BEST
I love it what a genius !
I love outsider art. Something about the nature of the person producing it is so easy to identify with. That, and some can be genuinely overlooked masterpieces.
Partch isn't outsider art. Outsider art is made by people uneducated in formal techniques. Partch on the contrary knew a lot of music theory, he just pushed it to the next level in formal terms.
i'll always remember you this way h p and counting
Donnie Mrkacek h p never said classical music was a mistake, he said "there's room enough for everyone its always been that way!"
+Donnie Mrkacek
Harry Partch and John Cage.
Wonder if he was influenced by Sun Ra. If not~ is this the sound of the natural jazz of the mind?. Fascinating how Partch looks like Waits and Bone Machine could not have been made without him.
He has a similar sounding voice to Bukowski, rhythm and tone.
While I can appreciate his approach and some of his instruments are cool to listen to. I honestly could not sit and listen to this music for hours at a time. Tones and music from various cultures and the ancient did eventually lend itself to Western Music. I personally don't believe this was a conspiracy.
bambino100011 I fully agree - on the one hand - Classical music is full of intense genius, to say otherwise is kind of like pointing at what Michelangelo could carve out of a single huge chunk of marble and saying "anyone could do that"... " that's not impressive or beautiful" ... On the other hand, Harry Partch certainly did not think like this at all. He just saw himself as an outsider. Men like Partch are maverick geniuses in another way completely.... They are into the absurd and far rout and yet find something mind blowing out there for sure... Colorful irascible characters... But there is nothing as emotive in its enormous variety, complexity, subtlety and grace that any civilization (a culmination of hundreds of cultures of millennia) has ever created anywhere on Earth in terms of melody, rhythm and harmony... Beautiful music exists wherever there have been men - but to try to decry occidental classical music is farcical... Yeah, it's old music now, like Michelangelo's sculptures are getting old... And yet they never do... So frigging what if they are in the past? So is Shakespeare!! ...We have it all still - we have it to play if we choose - and men such as me always shall play it... And we shall be moved to tears and thank our lucky stars. Few shall play the music of Partch... And yet he is truly fascinating, too. Maybe more should try... Doubt many listen to too much of it, to be honest - even people like me who love it 'in principle'!!
but you do. every day. the world around you is Partch
There is an original copy of plectra and percussion dances on eBay right now
Anyone know what's that music intro when he says he went out?in the beginning
from dave not cathy- certainly much more interesting than other iconoclasts- webern, blulez, carter- less of a dead end
Does anyone know where the uncut footage is from 3:25, 45:07?
how do I copy this to open on my computer?
4:55 carmen sandiego
35:48
what is the the song in the beginning?
revolucionarymerdo - The video starts with the first of Partch's two studies on ancient Greek scales; these are included in his 'Eleven Intrusions.' (My favorite of those is 'The Rose.') Following is something from 'Delusion of the Fury,' (on chromelodeon reed-organ, sans percussion) then a bit from 'The Dreamer that Remains.' Then 'Windsong.' That gets you to the bit with the streetcar and the sea of blue-haired old ladies.
GOD.
If you are going to clash 2 chords and it does not sound good I would at least try to cover it with the part is mostly good sounding. Can the performers enjoy what they are doing in the music, if so then it is ok.
Musically kindred spirit, Harry Partch, this is fantastic. (His words at 4:40, I believe that he would have endorsed Bernie Sanders!).
Keep politics out of this.
Joseph Carl Breil
How do you keep politics out of this when it is politics? You got some guy trying to find sponsors to build new fields because he rejects the status quo, and would rather go its own way than sale his soul... It just happens to be in the world of music rather than public management.
Shut the fuck up
He missed his true calling: horror film composer.
33:18 ._.
What is it with musical geniuses (Partch, Sun Ra, Joe Meek, Kevin Shields) that they're so often massively flawed characters? Square pegs I guess.
perfect... also Morton Feldman, all them. Here in Mozarteum also . Tristan Murail was such a weird vibration
Yes, Head over heel. gen·ius
ˈjēnyəs/Submitnoun1.exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability.
There's no need to compare John Cage to Partch -- or any other composer with another, for that matter.
+Saiful Rimkeit Isn't that like denying that creators of music and art are influenced by one another?
Perhaps an acquired taste? In the same way that Coltrane, Cage or some obscure classical composer may be? I just know I didn't become a fan based on this 59:16 minute video. Give it more time I guess.
Art is all subjective. I've been trying to get into Partch on and off for 30 years. Hasn't happened yet. I think it's interesting what he did, but ultimately the results unpleasant to me. I'd love to see other composers utilize his instruments to create a piece. I've always thought perhaps he was a brilliant instrument creater, but not a good composer.
is watching a documentary on music the best way to experience music?
go watch a full performance or something
@@thoughtsforthebuilders Sometimes knowing a little bit more about what I am listening to, instead of just going straight to the performances, helps me to appreciate something. It certainly isn't the best way to actually EXPERIENCE music, but it goes a long way in helping to understand and appreciate it sometimes.
So let me get this right - he overcame the limitations of the scale that classical music is built on by....keeping the structure of the scale and adding more notes ....and writing some godawful music. Truly revolutionary.
You didn't hear the part where they talked about how 'microtone' tunings were used in ancient Greece and were eventually superseded by what we know as tempered tuning and 'conventional' scales? It went for about three minutes and was of crucial significance in explaining Partch's microtone logic. Also that constant turning back and forward between different styles over millennia is exactly what revolutionary is - what you're thinking of is 'stationary'. So yeah, you didn't get it right... A few times in fact. I'm surprised you can appreciate music at all with them blocked up earholes, friend...
Not the same structure. There are chords in the infinite amount of microtone scales that simply do not exist in 12 tone western music. Chords that reflect different moods and feelings that again do not exist in 12 tone.
Bollocks!
Go listen to twinkle twinkle little star
You're just a doubter.
This video opens with a statement which it later proves is false, "he died a hobo,no, wait, he died highly respected and with a patron"😉
That's true
He “decided” to become a hobo. Lol
whether he did or didn't - it was the 30s, so.
lots of hobos. literal hobos. not just grungy dirty homeless people, but
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo
I really loved the ancient beautiful Japanese music in the beginning... Sorry but I don't buy into atonal or "modern music". A Jackson Pollack is a wonderful mesh of color and energy. The musical equivalent to a Jackson is a total absurd mess. After all that is what modern music really is - an attempt to parallel modern visual art. "Safety and conformism" is the mantra use by proponents to describe great works of art because they erroneously equate them with some sort of fascist, elitist or patriarchal notion. To say that great classical pieces are safe and conformist is like saying that beautiful mathematical equations are conformist and lets just break all the rules and come up with some random numbers because we just want o break the rules of math in the name of innovation.
Funny that - some people would claim that a Jackson Pollock is "a total absurd mess". But we don't. We recognize the beauty in his art, the "wonderful mesh of color and energy", as you put it. Why? Because we get it and they don't. Let's switch to music. Plenty of people, myself included, love a lot of "modern music", finding it full of beauty, emotion, colour and energy. You don't. Why? Because we get it and you don't. You see, the problem isn't with the music at all, the problem is with you!
rjtwax14 So your whole argument/response is an ad hominen logical fallicy? Must be something wrong with anybody who disagrees with me or you or...see how intellectually void your argument is? I'll remeber the next time I think someone disagrees with my way of thinking. I'll just say they dont get it. End of debate. Brilliant! Furthermore, I am not alone. Many highly innovative and intelligent well educated people "dont get it" as you say. I simply stated why I think i doesnt work and your response is to insult me. Unless you have something more valuable to add to the debate, some more substance other than to absurdly attack me, I have nothng else to say.
I didn't intend to insult you. You stated that modern music is a total absurd mess. The implication is that people who love modern music must be fools. This is the insult. You lack the humility to recognize that there is something in it which many people do greatly appreciate, but which you simply do not understand. I don't think that's down to intellect or education. After all, there are plenty of intelligent and educated people who would describe the work of Jackson Pollock as a total absurd mess as well.
just to clarify, "the ancient beautiful Japanese music in the beginning" is by Harry Partch, Two Studies on Ancient Greek Scales
@Cosmo Spacemonkey So you watched like 5 minutes of the whole ( almost an hour long ) video, but you felt like you have to right nine paragraphs stating nothing?
What makes you think anybody should bother reading even 5 of the words you wrote seeking attention for your 'intelligence'. What makes you feel worth of debating, discussing or commenting this video? To be honest, I still read what you wrote, but it is unclear to me what you were trying to say, other than trying disagreeing with one or two statements in the beginning of the video and trying to defend great classical pieces , and I say trying because if your thought is not clear, you (in my opinion) should work on it instead of fighting for the good name of dead composers, who might or might not have been great in their time.
But wait... why am I even talking to a monkey, even if it might be one that thinks of itself as a cosmo-space monkey? lol I guess, because I am Human and I want to make the monkey think. If the monkey replies to this, it better be a well thought one though.
IK
Thank you.
51:08