If there were a musical equivalent of alternative history writing, Harry Partch would be its best-known author. A hobo in his teen years during the 1920s, Partch grew up to be one of the twentieth century's greatest speculative composers, who created his own set of 27 new instruments that could be played in his specially-designed symphony space. Influenced by the tonal scales of Asian and Native American music, Partch's instruments use the "Just Intonation" scale, which is composed of 29 tones. This scale is a more direct reflection of the tones we hear in nature, and was used quite commonly in the West before the 12 tone scale (which you know from pianos) was invented about 250 years ago.

Partch's idea was to return to a more natural set of musical sounds, but unfortunately all Western instruments are set up to use the 12-tone scale. So he just invented his own new orchestra that used the Just Intonation scale, including instruments called the "harmonic canon," the "chromelodeon," the "boo," the "quadrangularus reversum" and (my personal favorite) the "spoils of war." Many of these instruments make sounds that will remind you of classical Chinese music, and in some cases African music.

Essentially, Partch imagined an alternate history of Western music, in which composers never abandoned the Just Intonation scale, and instrument-makers used materials like bamboo in their work to create a more Asian sound.

The best part is that you can not only hear the alternate history orchestra, you can play in it. American Public Media has an amazing multimedia site devoted to Harry Partch, complete with Flash thingers that let you play Partch's instruments with your mouse or keyboard. I spent quite a while zooming all over the nernnerners and boops and KLARNGs of Partch's orchestra, and it was damn fun. Highly recommended if you want to experience the speculative side of music-making. Image by Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times.

Harry Partch's Instruments [American Public Media] (Thanks, Wishnevsky!)

2:00 PM on Mon Mar 17 2008
By Annalee Newitz
1,241 views
12 comments

Comments

Ghede at 02:26 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*

Some of the instruments are broken. Pressing buttons does nothing.
Plague at 02:35 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*

I actually found out about Partch by checking out his records from the library, of all places. I think "delusion..." was the first one I heard.

But the collections are still the best stuff. I wonder if any of this material is even available any more.
Ed Grabianowski at 04:58 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 55

I swear Annalee, I think you read my mind sometimes. Just this morning I burned a CD of Delusion of the Fury for the guy who runs my local comic shop, aaaannd, I was thinking that Chromelodeon might be an awesome name for my new band.

I guess my io9 implant is fully functional.
Torley at 04:59 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*

Brill article, I'm glad you brought this up. It's been years since I learned about this intriguing fusion of alternate history and tonal experiments, and what a welcome refresher it is.

I wonder if anyone's made virtual (VSTi) instruments based on Harry Partch's ideas? I know there's some apps that enable audio sequencers to use microtone scales and such, but being able to readily plug these sounds into an existing production setup would be excellente.
Grey_Area at 06:36 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*

This made me think of experimental musician and eccentric street character Louis Thomas Hardin aka "Moondog". I recall one piece in particular with 8 saxophones and a kettle drum. Sounds like a triumphal march for an Alien warlord.

[en.wikipedia.org]
codydog at 07:40 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*

@Torley: i think so..Google oddmusic, and look there.. It is a mail-list and a web site, and has unbelievable amounts of stuff hidden away..
Annalee Newitz at 07:48 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 344

@zeppelined: Mwhahah your brain transmissions have been received.
Ed Grabianowski at 10:09 PM on 03/17/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 55

Was it on io9 or Gizmodo that I saw the video of the laser harp? It wasn't microtonal or anything, but it was still pretty cool. It was the only instrument other than a theramin that I've seen that can be played without touching it.
metopin10 at 12:34 AM on 03/18/08
Reply by Email
*

harry partch is awesome. i was in the harry partch ensemble at montlciar state university. it was one of the few times in my musical life that i was able to successfully improv because i wasn't afraid of failing.

if you are in ny or nj you should check them, they perform all the time:

www.musicmontclair.edu
or
harrypartch.com
or
newband.org
numbersix at 07:49 AM on 03/18/08
Reply by Email
*

@Grey_Area:

Weird -- I found out about Moondog from a Mr Scruff song, where he uses one of Moondog's more famous horn snippets as the base sample for "Get A Move On".

So happy to see Harry Partch's name crop up outside of my weirdo music theorist circles.
philipbla at 11:23 AM on 03/18/08
Reply by Email
*

Harry's original works are released on the Enclosure series right here:

[innova.mu]

It includes CDs, a huge book and 2 DVDs (including remastered films of Delusion of the Fury, as well as the CD). These are also available for download on iTunes etc and your karma will be better than if you burn copies.
Freddie Freelance at 11:29 AM on 03/18/08
Reply by Email
*

AllMusic lets you listen to snippets of his music:

[www.allmusic.com]