Partch, Harry

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Partch, Harry (b Oakland, Calif., 1901; d San Diego, 1974). Amer. self-taught composer and inventor. Comp. several large works before he was 25 but destroyed them. Wandered over USA during depression as hobo. In 1943, while a lumberjack, he received Guggenheim award enabling him to develop 20 instrs. he had invented. He used system of intonation with 43 notes to octave; instrs. incl. the ‘marimba eroica’, ‘chromelodeon’, etc. Research assoc., Wisconsin Univ. 1944–7. Works incl. Windsong, Barstow, 2 Settings from Finnegans Wake, and And on the 7th Day Petals Fell in Petaluma.

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