Lou Harrison-such a fresh sound, and so underrated in his own country. I was lucky to meet Lou and his partner in a gathering of about a dozen gay composers and performers in the 1980s. He was personable, confident and intelligent regarding his own work, and humble and kind in remarks about fellow composers, including gossip the rest of us tried digging up on Samuel Barber, David del Tredici, Henry Cowell, John Coriglione, Alan Hovaness, Roy Harris, etc. Lou remained a gentleman composer of vibrant musicality, and my first, best model for that. He did glow, I’ll say, while admiring Barber’s “Adagio,” saying to the effect that, popular opinion aside, it was the high mark for one of the deepest American artists, and a gem of achievement any country would envy. The decades have reaffirmed his assessment of both the Adagio and its composer, I think.
Agree. In the original Stokowski lp it was on the flip side of Henry Cowell's Persian Set. The Cowell has now been reissued on cd, but not with the Harrison.
Lou Harrison-such a fresh sound, and so underrated in his own country. I was lucky to meet Lou and his partner in a gathering of about a dozen gay composers and performers in the 1980s. He was personable, confident and intelligent regarding his own work, and humble and kind in remarks about fellow composers, including gossip the rest of us tried digging up on Samuel Barber, David del Tredici, Henry Cowell, John Coriglione, Alan Hovaness, Roy Harris, etc. Lou remained a gentleman composer of vibrant musicality, and my first, best model for that. He did glow, I’ll say, while admiring Barber’s “Adagio,” saying to the effect that, popular opinion aside, it was the high mark for one of the deepest American artists, and a gem of achievement any country would envy. The decades have reaffirmed his assessment of both the Adagio and its composer, I think.
omg yes!!!!!!! i don't think i've heard a harrison piece that i didn't love
Very great....innovative....so happy to have somehow encountered this jewel while rambling....BRAVO!
A masterpiece of great delight, Thanks
I love this. Harrison is IMO at his best when his Eastern, Western, and "non-standard tonal" senses collide.
Definitely!
This recording might have been made in '88 - but I think the piece was written in '51.
I. Overture 0:00
II. Elegy 3:20
III. First Gamelan 6:48
IV. Aria 10:26
V. Second Gamelan 13:25
VI. Chorale 15:28
Thank you !
Agree. In the original Stokowski lp it was on the flip side of Henry Cowell's Persian Set. The Cowell has now been reissued on cd, but not with the Harrison.
nice
one of my favorite pieces, although I prefer the CR recording of theI Stokowski version
Omg.