Castor and Pollux by Harry Partch, played by Newband
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- Live Recording - Meany Hall, University of Washington - 11/7/2012
Performed on original instruments invented and built by Harry Partch.
Castor and Pollux (1952) Harry Partch
Dean Drummond - kithara II
Nathaniel Liberty - surrogate kithara
Joe Bergen - cloud chamber bowls
Jared Soldiviero - harmonic canon
Jeffrey Irving - bass marimba (high)
Bill Ruyle - diamond marimba
Joe Fee - bass marimba (low)
Castor and Pollux "A Dance for the Twin Rhythms of Gemini" - was composed by Partch in 1952. First it was a sextet for Kithara II, Harmonic Canon, Diamond Marimba, Bass Marimba (two players), and CloudChamber Bowls. It was quickly determined that the Kithara part was too difficult and Partch also quickly invented and built the Surrogate Kithara so he could divide the original part between two players. A story of seduction, birth, and an ascent into the stars, this score only follows the story of the famous twins up to their birth, or more accurately, their hatching from an egg. (Daddy was a swan), It was originally conceived as a more optimistic antidote to Partch's dancedrama based on the tragic Oedipus. Castor and Pollux is one continuous work in two large parts, as each twin is handled separately, first Castor, then Pollux. Both halves of the work consist of three duos (or trios when the kitharas are playing) in sequence: the Conception, the Seduction, and the Incubation. In the fourth and final section of each half, Delivery from the Egg, the duos and trio are played simultaneously, a musical triple exposure.
Harry Partch (1901-1974), one of the greatest and most individualistic composers of all time, was not only a great composer, but an innovative theorist who broke through the shackles of many centuries of one tuning system for all of Western music, a music instrument inventor who created dozens of incredible instruments for the performance of his music, and a musical dramatist who created his own texts and dance/theatre extravaganzas based on everything from Greek mythology to his own experiences as a hobo. Between 1930 and 1972, he created one of the most amazing bodies of sensually alluring and emotionally powerful music of the 20th century: music dramas, dance theater, multi-media extravaganzas, vocal music and chamber music---mostly all performed on the instruments he built himself.
www.harrypartch...
Newband was founded in 1977 by composer Dean Drummond and flutist Stefani Starin who continue as Artistic Directors. With Drummond's invention of the 31-tone zoomoozophone in 1978, Newband began to explore music using microtonality and alternative tuning systems. In 1990, Newband received custodianship of the original Harry Partch Instrument Collection and has since been involved with resurrecting Partch's great works while commissioning new works for what is now perhaps the most unique instrument collection in the world.
www.newband.org
What fun to hear this live. I haven't heard this piece for many years
Bought the record in the 70s. Keep up the great work!
I like to listen to Partch's music so much more when there is no narration. This a great performance of a great piece bringing out the influence of gamelan on Partch.
I think this is probably one of the best performances ever. It all is in sink and great 5 stroke ruffs... or grace notes, and done with feeling and emotion. Great work. Keep it up.... david
I remember long ago in my early days of percussion. My concept was to run away and join Harry Partch in his adventures. I was sad to see that he died. wow those were the days.
This performance is incomparable with other versions
this is excellent to hear that partch's music is still being performed. i had feared that there were only old recordings....
bravo! keep up the good work/playing....
The "mallet" bit starting around 11:30 is astounding.
right side of youtube, welcome all.
Why thank you, I'm sure I'll enjoy my stay in the non 12-TET tuning system
great stuff, groove and harmonies
Wonderful music. I had an album or two many years ago.
I admire Harry Partch. His book "Genesis of a music" was a most wonderful discovery for me. But I still don't know what I have to think of his compositions: are they really as good as his ideas and instruments? Sometimes I have doubts about it. Sorry, Harry! This performance is absolutely great!!
You're right; I am playing harmonic canon in this performance. This was archive footage taken by the sound guys. Unfortunately it's pretty poor quality. Glad you enjoy it!
Sounds good though!
I started listening to Delusion of the Fury because of my brother when I was very young. Five years old maybe? He was even younger than I when he started to listen to it. It has been in our lives ever since. A few years ago we attended a performance on what would have been Harry's 100th birthday, at Montclair University. Dean Drummond conducted and prior to the performance were were permitted to visit the room where all of the instruments were stored.
As for the compositions themselves, it is something that grows with you over time. Delusion of the Fury, Castor and Pollux, Petaluma all possess and undeniable vitality, there to experience for those that seek it.
I enjoy contemporary electronic dance music. Not necessarily of the mainstream variety as I prefer changes in tempo. Of the types that I enjoy, many bare the qualities that exist in the compositions mentioned above.
It's amazing how many interesting artifacts of Harry's work have appeared on UA-cam and I am extremely grateful that these works are obscure enough that they have not been removed.
I so do hope that more performances will appear on this channel. Please post more if they become available.
Do you know 'Revelation in the Courthouse Park'? If you like this, and 'Delusion of the Fury' you will probably love it.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Luke Green : I just got to hear Revelation all the way through for the first time yesterday and was quite impressed. I think in some sections it musically blows the Bewitched and Delusion out of the water, even.
I went to a Newband open house in Montclair once and got to actually play the diamond and bass marimbas a bit... I think some of Dean's instruments were out too. Cloud chamber bowls were off limits for obvious reasons, and I heard that Zymo-Xyl was living in Dean's living room. One of the students was kind enough to show me the office where the Reversum was camped out, and I got to touch it - didn't have the right kind of mallets to play it though. It took up nearly half the room!
Great performance, congrats! I know that a camera in a set-and-forget position is cheapest, and possibly this was only archival footage for you, but a part of me wishes I could see you all in close up playing these extraordinary instruments.
This is so fun to listen to. Awesome.
what the hell is this?! its amazing! genius!
fantastic!!!!
he was in advanced of his time !
This is a fantastic performance. Really amazing. I love it.
Wow! Speechless.
This music just cured me of a 40 year old headache. ( so life IS meant to be exciting and fun ? Yeah ! ) Thank you !
Please upload some impro's too, will you ?
His music always reminds me of the dungeon scene from the Dr Seuss movie The 5000 fingers of Dr T
I have subscribe, is there more video coming in future..
I wonder. All these marvelous instruments he invented exist now, so, do any other composers ever write music for the Harry Partch instruments?
Peter von zur Muehlen Great question!
Peter von zur Muehlen YES: check out five scenes form my opera, LSD: The Opera, with Partch instruments and a 'normal' ensemble: www.lsdtheopera.com
Anne LeBaron - going through the videos on your site. I love the humor and Disneyesque quality - especially during the bicycle ride! Well done!
PVZM The original PartcH collection is, I believe, at U. Washington in Seattle. THere's a duplicate set currently in California.
Check out Tom Waits around Swordfish Trombones & Rain Dogs
fantastic work guys!!! =) BRAVO!!!!
This is really really cool.
I have no idea what you mean by your question "I don't know what to think of Partch's compositions: are they really as good as his ideas and instruments"? Who are you comparing him to, exactly? And what is it that makes his compositions less good than the person or people you are comparing him to?
What is your reasoning?
SixSixSix I think he's saying he finds Partch's music less pleasant to listen to than he finds Partch's ideas interesting to think about. Or alternately, that he likes the way the theory works more than he likes the way the music sounds.
I love this
It is said that there is a thin line between genius and insanity. Still trying to decide which side of the line Partch inhabited. I like this.
This is the line.
2012? This looks like it's the 70s.
Thank you for your reaction! I’m not comparing Partch with another composer. And I must admit that I have no objective reason to find his music less qualitative. Quality, as far as I have discovered until today, has no objective ground. Therefore my first reaction could be seen as senseless. Thus I admit that my reaction was subjective.
THE CORRUPTION OF THE OCCIDENTAL MUSIC!!! merci Partch!
Harry Partch and W. B. Yeats met - fact
Harry Partch & *I* met, a couple of times, in the early 1960s - I was a student at the Univ. of Illinois.
@@LDixon007 He was my grandfather's cousin. They looked a lot alike, like Beckett. Harry sought and received Yeat's blessing to do an opera based on Yeats' interpretation of Oedipus ... Here's a pretty decent article:
www.therestisnoise.com/2005/04/harry_partch.html
(continue) Yes, for me music of eg Dusapin (his string quartets, which I know best), Rihm, Carter, Dutilleux, only to name a few, are for me (me as a subject) more interesting, more beautifull. But I hope NewbandMusicEnsemble will go on to play Partch. It’s a benefaction for the human world.
Requiem for Immortals
There are some videos on you tube in which the insruments can be seen closer> I also have some more I can post
please do
I'm proud of my exploring, searching, curious, eclectic, avant-garde self. I listened to this for an entire seven minutes!
Whatever limit tuning this is, partch went too far