Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Film

 

The Harry Partch Ensemble is a classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of the works of American composer Harry Partch. The ensemble was founded in 1991 by Danlee Mitchell, who was a close associate of Partch and had worked with him on the development of his unique musical instruments. Harry Partch was a composer who was known for his use of microtonal scales and his creation of unique musical instruments. He was born in 1901 in Oakland, California, and began his musical career as a traditional composer. However, he became dissatisfied with the limitations of traditional Western music and began to experiment with new scales and tunings. He also began to create his own musical instruments, which he called "intonation devices." Partch's music and instruments were highly innovative and unique, and he struggled to find performers who could play his music as he intended. He eventually formed his own ensemble, which he called the "Corporeal" ensemble, and began to perform his music himself. However, after his death in 1974, his music and instruments were largely forgotten. Danlee Mitchell, who had worked with Partch on the development of his instruments, was determined to keep Partch's music alive. He founded the Harry Partch Ensemble in 1991, with the goal of performing Partch's music using his original instruments and tunings. The ensemble's main members are all highly skilled musicians who have dedicated themselves to the performance of Partch's music. They include John Schneider, who is the ensemble's musical director and plays the guitar and other stringed instruments; Erin Barnes, who plays the marimba and other percussion instruments; T.J. Troy, who plays the bass and other stringed instruments; and Nick Terry, who plays the percussion instruments. The Harry Partch Ensemble has performed all over the world, including at major music festivals such as the Ojai Music Festival and the Lincoln Center Festival. They have also released several recordings of Partch's music, including "The Harry Partch Collection, Volume 1" and "The Harry Partch Collection, Volume 2." One of the highlights of the ensemble's career was their performance of Partch's opera "Delusion of the Fury" at the Japan Society in New York City in 2013. The opera, which was originally composed in the 1960s, had never been performed in its entirety before. The ensemble spent months rehearsing and preparing for the performance, which was a major success. The Harry Partch Ensemble has also received several awards and honors for their work. In 2014, they were awarded a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium for their recording of Partch's music, "Plectra & Percussion Dances." They have also been recognized by the American Music Center and the National Endowment for the Arts for their contributions to the performance of American music. Overall, the Harry Partch Ensemble has played a crucial role in keeping the music of Harry Partch alive and introducing it to new audiences. Their dedication to the performance of Partch's music using his original instruments and tunings has helped to preserve his unique musical legacy for future generations.

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