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Course Description

Summary

This course explores the life, works, and revolutionary contributions of Harry Partch (1901–1974), one of the most original and influential American composers of the 20th century. Partch was a pioneer of microtonal music and developed a unique 43-tone scale, which led him to construct his own instruments to realize his visionary compositions. Students will examine Partch’s unconventional approach to tuning, his rejection of equal temperament, and his philosophy of music as an integrated theatrical and corporeal experience. Through a combination of lectures, listening sessions, instrument demonstrations, and analysis of his major works—such as Barstow, Delusion of the Fury, and The Bewitched—the course will provide insight into his artistic journey, influences, and legacy. In addition to studying his music, students will explore the historical and cultural contexts that shaped Partch’s career, including his experiences during the Great Depression, his travels as a hobo, and his interactions with other avant-garde artists of his time. The course will also include discussions on the technical construction of his custom-built instruments, such as the Chromelodeon, Cloud-Chamber Bowls, Diamond Marimba, and the Quadrangularis Reversum. Students will be engaged in building replicas and reinterpretations of many of Partch’s Instruments as part of the course's basic requirements.