Composer

:

Harry Partch

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Open Form

Compose Date

:

1941 - 1955

Average_duration

:

9:37

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

Harry Partch's "Barstow" is a unique and innovative piece of music that was composed in 1941. The piece was premiered in 1943 and is considered to be one of Partch's most significant works. "Barstow" is a collection of spoken texts that are set to music, and it is divided into three movements. The first movement of "Barstow" is titled "The Story of the Rattlesnake" and features a spoken text that tells the story of a man who encounters a rattlesnake while walking in the desert. The music that accompanies the text is characterized by a series of percussive sounds that are produced by various instruments, including maracas, woodblocks, and gongs. The second movement of "Barstow" is titled "San Francisco" and features a spoken text that describes the city of San Francisco. The music that accompanies the text is characterized by a series of dissonant chords that are played on a modified guitar that Partch called a "Kithara." The third movement of "Barstow" is titled "Letter from Barstow" and features a spoken text that is a letter written by a hitchhiker who is stranded in the town of Barstow. The music that accompanies the text is characterized by a series of percussive sounds that are produced by various instruments, including maracas, woodblocks, and gongs. Overall, "Barstow" is a unique and innovative piece of music that combines spoken texts with unconventional musical instruments and techniques. The piece is characterized by its use of percussive sounds and dissonant chords, and it is considered to be one of Partch's most significant works.

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