Partch: Plectra and Percussion Dance

This new recording marks the first complete performance of Harry Partch’s major cycle in three parts, Plectra and Percussion Dances. On the original 1953 recording, Castor & Pollux, was missing three movements, and the finale, Even Wild Horses, was missing its tenor saxophone part.
The virtuosi of Partch give us revelatory interpretations of these stunningly original scores. Also included is a 7 minute spoken introduction, given by the composer in 1953 on the occasion of the broadcast premiere of this work.

“The scenarios of the three pieces are a typically odd Partch jumble of Greek myth, surreal humour – Happy Birthday to You crops up in the middle of one of them – and snatches of texts by Rimbaud. The struck and plucked music sometimes recalls a Javanese gamelan, sometimes modern primitivism.” The Guardian

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