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Who is Lou Harrison? Our latest More Than Music episode explores the work of an American original.
Harrison used instruments rarely seen in any ensemble—Flower pots, parts of old cars, and junk he collected with composer John Cage. Together, he blended eastern and western music into his own unique creation.
Cultural historian Joe Horowitz says Harrison was “a prophetic West Coast composer who practiced “world music” before there was a name for it.”
The rest of Harrison’s life, in which he embraced gay rights, environmentalism, humanism, and poetry, echoed the composer’s endless pursuit of knowledge and wonder.
So why have so many never heard of him?
Horowitz says that might depend on where you live.
Harrison used instruments rarely seen in any ensemble—Flower pots, parts of old cars, and junk he collected with composer John Cage. Together, he blended eastern and western music into his own unique creation.
Cultural historian Joe Horowitz says Harrison was “a prophetic West Coast composer who practiced “world music” before there was a name for it.”
The rest of Harrison’s life, in which he embraced gay rights, environmentalism, humanism, and poetry, echoed the composer’s endless pursuit of knowledge and wonder.
So why have so many never heard of him?
Horowitz says that might depend on where you live.
More Than Music: Lou Harrison
Posted from the1a.orgPosted in these groups: 
Music
Music
Posted >1 y ago
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Talk about being creative! There is more than one way to exhibit your craft!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer, music critic, music theorist, painter, and creator of unique musical instruments. Harrison initially wrote in a dissonant, ultramodernist style similar to his former teacher and contemporary, Henry Cowell, but later moved toward incorporating elements of non-Western cultures into his work. Notable examples include a number of pieces written for Javanese style gamelan instruments, inspired after studying with noted gamelan musician Kanjeng Notoprojo in Indonesia. Harrison would create his own musical ensembles and instruments with his partner, William Colvig, who are now both considered founders of the American gamelan movement and world music; along with composers Harry Partch and Claude Vivier, and ethnomusicologist Colin McPhee.
The majority of Harrison's works and custom instruments are written for just intonation rather than the more widespread equal temperament, making him one of the most prominent composers to have experimented with microtones. He was also one of the first composers to have written in the international language Esperanto, and among the first to incorporate strong themes of homosexuality in his music."...
"Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer, music critic, music theorist, painter, and creator of unique musical instruments. Harrison initially wrote in a dissonant, ultramodernist style similar to his former teacher and contemporary, Henry Cowell, but later moved toward incorporating elements of non-Western cultures into his work. Notable examples include a number of pieces written for Javanese style gamelan instruments, inspired after studying with noted gamelan musician Kanjeng Notoprojo in Indonesia. Harrison would create his own musical ensembles and instruments with his partner, William Colvig, who are now both considered founders of the American gamelan movement and world music; along with composers Harry Partch and Claude Vivier, and ethnomusicologist Colin McPhee.
The majority of Harrison's works and custom instruments are written for just intonation rather than the more widespread equal temperament, making him one of the most prominent composers to have experimented with microtones. He was also one of the first composers to have written in the international language Esperanto, and among the first to incorporate strong themes of homosexuality in his music."...
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