Harry Partch's Enigmatic Musical Notation
Version
Published
Date Issued
2020-02
Author(s)
Type
Magazine Article
Language
English
Abstract
Harry Partch (1901-1974) was an American composer, theorist and instrument maker. His book Genesis of a Music (1974) offers a comprehensive explanation of his musical ideas (new tonal systems, instrument-building, playing techniques and notation). He edited many of his works several times, and rewrote them or used them as parts of later compositions.
Between 1930 and 1933, Partch worked on a group of songs to poems by the Chinese poet Li Po (701-762, translated into English by Shigeyoshi Obata), which he composed for voice and his newly constructed “Adapted Viola”. Partch spent a long time trying to find a notation system that could convey the musical pitches he wanted to use. His struggles are reflected not least in the fact that he reworked one of these pieces six times over the space of 32 years (Versions A-F, 1930-1962), applying a different notation system each time.
Between 1930 and 1933, Partch worked on a group of songs to poems by the Chinese poet Li Po (701-762, translated into English by Shigeyoshi Obata), which he composed for voice and his newly constructed “Adapted Viola”. Partch spent a long time trying to find a notation system that could convey the musical pitches he wanted to use. His struggles are reflected not least in the fact that he reworked one of these pieces six times over the space of 32 years (Versions A-F, 1930-1962), applying a different notation system each time.
Subjects
M Music
Journal or Serie
HKB-Zeitung
Organization
Volume
No1/20
Publisher
Fachhochschule der Künste Bern
Submitter
RalliE
Citation apa
Ralli, E. (2020). Harry Partch’s Enigmatic Musical Notation. In HKB-Zeitung: Vol. No1/20. Fachhochschule der Künste Bern. https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/42274
