A wonderful discovery from the archives of Mills College For Women, long a hotbed of revolutionary musical experimentation. This early 50’s newsreel of Harry Partch conducting the students on his battery of self-invented and built instruments (Partch famously described himself as a composer seduced into carpentry) is entirely too brief. Fortunately, due to the Youtubes, there’s been an explosion of materials on the great man for one and all to discover. I include as a bonus but a few of the lesser viewed examples of his greatness and encourage explorers to seek out recordings of Partch’s utterly unique music.
Harry Partch Music Studio a short film by Madeline Tourtelot circa late 50’s. (in two parts)
A section of Delusion of the Fury, my favorite work by Partch:
Making rose petal jam. Kinda spooky:
With thanks and love to the Anaphorian Embassy