Once upon a time
There was a little boy
And he went outside
- a Partchism
The musical ideas of Harry Partch (1901-1974), with his individualistic and innovative theories about microtonalities, natural acoustic resonance (just intonation) and expanded melodic and harmonic possibilities, included speech integrated with music. To perform his own music, he had to invent one-of-a-kind, hand-built instruments. His unique instrument designs, doing double duty as far-out pieces of sculpture, were created to play custom multi-tone scales that have influenced musicians ever since. Harry --in his own words-- was "seduced" into carpentry to make indescribably beautiful percussion instruments such as the
BOO, the
KITHARTHA, and the
MARIMBA EROICA. Using "found sound" generators such as hubcabs and nuclear cloud chambers made of glass, he created the
ZYMO-XYL and the
SPOILS OF WAR which allowed him to explore philosophical and intonational concepts that pushed the boundries of traditional roles of the performer and composer, and the role of music in society.
Topic:
THE REOCCURING THEME OF THE THEREMIN
Klaatu, Barada, Niktu!
John Rigg's
multi-voiced theremin, can actually play chords made up of 12 distinct tones. The original theremin with its "music from the ether" was intended to be used by classically trained performers, who would use it much as any instrument is played except for one difference. The performers would use their hands but would never touch the instrument itself. The Theremin is played using it's antennas - one controlling pitch, and the other controlling volume. As the players' hand approaches the vertical antenna, the pitch gets higher. And as the horizontal antenna is approached, it makes the volume softer. With no physical contact, it takes precise movements "in the air" to get the correct pitch. Although most often used for its spooky sound in sci-fi movie soundtracks of the 50's and 60's, the Theremin was used by legendary musical artists like Brian Wilson (Good Vibrations), and Jean Michel Jarre (Oxygene 7-13), and most recently by great bands like Garbage, RadioHead and Incubus.
