Finding Aid for Music and Performing Arts Library Harry Partch Collection, 1914-2007 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Tom McGeary, Noah Lenstra, Elizabeth Surles and Scott Schwartz

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Collection Overview

Title: Music and Performing Arts Library Harry Partch Collection, 1914-2007

ID: 35/3/82

Primary Creator: Partch, Harry (1901-1974)

Other Creators: Cutler, Jean (1927-2010), Johnston, Ben

Extent: 23.1 cubic feet

Arrangement:

Series 1: BMI Collection consists of the complete contents of their publicity file about Partch; given in December 1987.

Series 2: Jean Cutler Collection consists of a group of materials documenting Jean Cutler's association with Partch from 1962 to 1970; collection purchased from Jean Cutler in June 1996.

Series 3: Oliver Daniel Collection consists of photocopies (and some originals) of correspondence and articles between and about Partch and Daniel; obtained ca. 1988.

Series 4: Betty Freeman Collection consists of recordings of rehearsals, performances, and interviews, correspondence, transcripts, and publications; the bulk of the collection was donated in January 1979, with supplements in later years, especially 1999.

Series 5: John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Collection consists of photocopies of materials in the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation files.

Series 6: Barnard Hewitt Collection consists of original materials from Barnard Hewitt ; given in 1978.

Series 7: Robert Kostak Collection consists of original materials; purchased from Kostka in November 1987.

Series 8: Lynn Ludlow Collection consists of original and photocopies of brochures, programs, announcements, newspaper and magazine clippings; given in April 1989.

Series 9: Lauriston C. Marshall Collection consists of materials relating to Harry Partch; given to the University of Illinois Music Library by Larry and Lucie Marshall between 1976 and 1980.

Series 10: Danlee Mitchell Harry Partch Collection consists of personal materials relating to Partch; Donated in 1991 on the occasion of a commemorative concert to honor the retirement of Jack McKenzie as Dean of Fine and Applied Arts at UIUC.

Series 11: Stephen Pouliot Harry Partch Collection consists of materials given to the Archive by Stephen Pouliot, in 1990 and 1998.

Series 12: Peter Yates Harry Partch Collection consists of photocopies of materials available in the University of California, San Diego's Mandeville Special Collections Library's Peter Yates Collection.

Series 13: Subject Files consists of original materials collected or created for the Archive, not part of individual collections above.

Series 14: Musical Scores consists of blue-line original or photocopies of Partch autograph scores; assembled from various sources.

Series 15: Photographs consists of photographic material (slides, prints, and negatives transferred from various collections and/or folders.

Series 16: Bibliography Project files consists of originals or photocopies of articles (or sections in books) published about Partch.

Series 17: Oral History Tapes consists of recordings of interviews with or about Partch.

Series 18: Performance Tapes consists of recordings of performances and lectures.

Series 19: Microfilms, slide strips, video tapes and films consists of items in the titular formats.

Series 20: Philip Blackburn Harry Partch Collection consists of materials collected and created by Philip Blackburn in relation to his INNOVA and Enclosures products devoted to publishing materials about Partch under the auspices of the American Composers Forum, Minneapolis.

Series 21: Kenneth Gaburo Papers consist of materials related to The Bewitched and had been in the possession of Philip Blackburn, as part of his INNOVA and Enclosures publication project; transferred to the archive in April 2008.

Series 22: Oversize Materials consists of photograph and posters of Harry Partch and his instruments.

Series 23: Madeline Tourtelot Harry Partch Collection consists of Madeline Tourtelot's own cassettes, tapes, and a book that had been given to Philip Blackburn in relation to his Enclosures publishing project; transferred to the Partch Archive in April 2008 as part of Blackburn's donation of his Enclosures material.

Series 24: Duplicate Tapes consists of 15 1/4" audio tapes made as listening copies by the Music and Performing Arts Library's Special Collections department. These tapes were transferred from MPAL Special Collections in April, 2015, and correspond to the tapes listed on pages 87 to 93 of the 2005 Harry Partch Guide to the Collection linked in Administrative Information.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1975. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Compositions-Music, Instrumental music, Photographs

Formats/Genres: Financial Records, Motion Pictures/Videotapes, Newspaper Clippings, Sound Recordings

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of books, music, films, personal papers, artifacts and sound recordings collected by the staff of the Music and Performing Arts Library and the University of Illinois School of Music documenting the life and career of Harry Partch, and those associated with him, throughout his career as a composer and writer.

Biographical Note

Born in Oakland, CA in 1901, Harry Partch was an American composer, theorist, instrument designer and performer. He is best known for the work he did with just temperment: developing a 43 tone octave scale, writing pieces to showcase it, and building instruments upon which it could be played. His musical knowledge was largely self-taught and his interest in intonation emerged out of microtonal experimentation conducted on string instruments. Many of his thoughts on the matter are outlined in his 1947 treatise, Genesis of a Music.

By the early 1950s, he had established the Gate 5 Ensemble and record label and begun a musical partnership with fellow composer Ben Johnston that would take him to the University of Illinois in 1956, where Johnston was then teaching. While at Illinois, Partch premiered his large stage work, The Bewitched, as part of the Festival of Contemporary Arts and also composed and had performed the stage works Revelation in the Courthouse Park and Water! Water! He returned to California in 1962 where he completed his last project, the text and music for a film, The Dreamer that Remains before his death in 1974.

Subject/Index Terms

Compositions-Music
Instrumental music
Photographs

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: Many accruals between 1975 and 2015, both in the form of individual collections and individual items.

Acquisition Source: Donation and acquisition

Acquisition Method: In 1975 the Music and Performing Arts Library acquired a set of scores reproduced from Partch's vellum masters through Irv Wilson. The Music and Performing Arts Library Harry Partch Collection was created in 1978 by Professor Ben Johnston and Thomas McGeary for the purpose of collecting relevant material documenting the life and musical work of Harry Partch. The impetus for the Collection was a donation by Lauriston C. Marshall of a group of tapes, recordings, documents, and letters. Over the following decade, many more accretions were added to the archive. Much of the work of collecting, organizing, and cataloging the material has been make possible through a generous grant to the Archive made by Betty Freeman in 1986.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 17: Oral History Tapes

Includes duplicate cassette tapes at end of box

Box 33

Folder 1: Interviews, Vol. 1

Item 1: Interview with Lou Harrison (composer) about Harry Partch, 1978: Aptos, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary. Digitized July 2012.
Item 2: Interview with Lou Harrison (concluded), 1978: Digitized July 2012.
Item 3: Discussion with Chris Forster (instrument builder and composer) about Harry Partch, 1978: Others present: Ben Johnston, Tom McGeary, Mark Behm, and John ; San Francisco, Ca.,
Item 4: Discussion with Chris Forster (concluded), 1978
Item 5: Interview with John and Pat Wright (painter) about Harry Partch, 1978: Inverness, Ca., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 6: Interview with Robert (painter) and Mary (sculptress) McChesney about Harry Partch, 1978: Petaluma, Ca., interviewed by Ben Johnson and Tom McGeary
Item 7: Interview with Francis Crawford (dentist) about Harry Partch, 1978: Petaluma, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 8: Interview with Francis Crawford (concluded), 1978
Item 9-11: Interview with Larry (Lauriston) Marshall (retired physicist) about Harry Partch, 1978: Gualala, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary. Digitized July 2012.
Item 12: Interview with George Everson (retired; formerly at Radiation Lab., UC Berkeley), 1978: Gualala, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary; also present: Larry Marshall

Folder 2: Interviews, Vol. 2

Item 13: Interview with Ruth McNamee (widow of Jimmie McNamee, owner of McNamee's Store, Gualala) about Harry Partch, 1978: Gualala, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston, Tom McGeary, and Larry Marshall.
Item 14-15: Interview with Lucie Marshall (wife of Larry) about Harry Partch, 1978: Gualala, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 16: Interview with Lucie and Larry Marshall about Harry Partch, 1978: Gualala, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 17: Interview with Ruth McNamee (owner of store at Gualala, Ca., when Partch lived there in 1948-50), 1978: Interview conducted by Larry and Lucie Marshall Gualala, Ca.
Item 18-19: Interview with Gordon Onslow-Ford (painter) about Harry Partch, 1978: Inverness, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 20: Interview with Henry Brant about Harry Partch, 1980: Del Mar, Calif., (at Bert Turetsky's home); interviewed by Danlee Mitchell; (tape courtesy of Danlee Mitchell)
Item 21-22: Interview with Gunnar Johansen (Blue Mound, Wis.) about Harry Partch, 1978: Interviewed by Ben Johnston & Tom McGeary
Item 23-24: Interview with Barnard Hewett about Harry Partch, 1978: Champaign, Ill., interviewed by Ben Johnston & Tom McGeary

Folder 3: Interviews, Vol. 3

Item 25: Interview with Jack McKenzie about Harry Partch, 1978: Urbana, Ill.; interviewed by Ben Johnston
Item 26: Interview with Pia Gilbert about Harry Partch, 1978: Los Angeles, interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 27: Interview with Carl Haverlin about Harry Partch, 1978: Northridge, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 28: Interview with Dr. and Mrs. James Jacobs about Harry Partch, 1979: Los Angeles (Encino); interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 29: Interview with Will Ogdon about Harry Partch, 1979: U.C.S.D., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 30: Interview with David and Susan Ward-Steinman about Harry Partch, 1979: La Mesa, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 31: Interview with Dr. Raymond Weston about Harry Partch, 1970: Beverly Hills, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 32: Interview with Mr. & Mrs. French about Harry Partch, 1979: Whittier, Calif., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 33: Side A: Interview with Frenches concluded; Side B: Interview with Katie Bjornson about Harry Partch, 1979: La Mesa, California, interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 34: Interview with Jon & Jonathan Glasier about Harry Partch, 1979: San Diego, interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary; also present Jonathan's wife Elizabeth
Item 35: Side A: Interview with Glasiers concluded; Side B: Soundtrack of film "The Music of Harry Partch", 1979: Produced by KPBPS-TV, San Diego State University. Includes performance of "Daphne of the Dunes"
Item 36: Interview with Betty Freeman about Harry Partch; Beverly Hills, 1978: Interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary (also present Stephen Pouliot and David Cloud)

Folder 4: Interviews, Vol. 4

Item 37: Interview with Betty Freeman about Harry Partch; Beverly Hills, 1978: Interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary (also present Stephen Pouliot and David Cloud)
Item 38-39: Second Interview with Betty Freeman about Harry Partch, 1979: Beverly Hills, interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 40-42: Interview with Emil Richards about Harry Partch, 1979: Hollywood, Ca., interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary; (also present, Celeste Richards)
Item 43-45: Interview with Erv Wilson about Harry Partch, 1979: Highland Park (Los Angeles); ; interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary. Side B, Tape 45: Interview with Peter Farrell about Harry Partch; U.C.S.D.; 10. Jan. 1979; interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 46: Interview with Dr. Warren Gilson about Harry Partch, 1979: Madison, Wisc., interviewed by Tom McGeary
Item 47-48: Interview with Otto Luening about Harry Partch, 1979: New York; interviewed bv Ben Johnston

Folder 5: Interviews, Vol. 5

Item 49: Interview with Oliver Daniel about Harry Partch, 1979: New York, interviewed by Ben Johnston
Item 50: Interview with Marshall Glasier about Harry Partch, 1979: New York, interviewed by Ben Johnston
Item 51: Interview with Dean Drummond about Harry Partch, 1979: New York, interviewed by Ben Johnston
Item 52: Reminiscences of Harry Partch by Gordon Onslow-Ford with Betty Freeman, 1977: Beverly Hills, Calif., also with Luchita Mullican; tape gift of Betty Freeman; interview conducted at the home of Betty Freeman
Item 53-54: Interview with Harold and Bertha Driscoll about Harry Partch, 1979: La Mesa, California, interviewed by Ben Johnston and Tom McGeary
Item 55-56: Interviews with Harry Partch, Danlee Mitchell, and Jim Aikenhead for soundtrack of film The Dreamer that Remains, undated: Interviews conducted (mostly) by Stephen Pouliot; Encinitas, Calif.; Gift of Betty Freeman (producer of film)
Item 57: Interview with Jack Logan about Harry Partch, 1979: San Diego, interviewed by Ben Johnston
Item 58: Interview with Pauline Oliveros about Harry Partch, 1979: U.C.S.D., interviewed by Ben Johnston
Item 59: Interview with John Chalmers about Harry Partch, 1979: Conducted at North Texas State University, Denton, TX, interviewed by Tom McGeary
Item 60: Interview with Ben Johnston about Harry Partch, 1983: Urbana, Illinois

Folder 6: Interviews, Vol. 6

Item 61: Interview with Ben Johnston about Harry Partch, 1983: Urbana, Illinois
Item 62: Interview with Steve and Lucienne Dimitroff, 1978: Interview conducted by Larry and Lucie Marshall, 34001 South Highway One, Gualala, CA 95445
Item 63: Interview with Michael Ranta, 1989: Interview conducted bv Bob Gilmore, Koln, Germany
Item 64: Interview with Gerd Stern about Harry Partch, 1984: Interview conducted at Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, interviewed by Tom McGeary
Item 65: Interview with Oliver Daniel about Harry Partch, 1985: Interview conducted by Betty Freeman, at Oliver Daniel's home, in Scarsdale, New York; tape gift of Betty Freeman, Beverly Hills, Ca.
Item 66-67: Interview with Henry Brant about Harry Partch, 1985: Interviewed by Betty Freeman at her home; tape gift of Betty Freeman
Item 68: Side A: Interview with Ben Johnston / Side B: Interview with Danlee Mitchell (concluded, 1985: Conducted by Tom Miller (July 1985) Interview with Danlee Mitchell, conducted by David Soldier (beginning) 1 August 1985; Both interviews were conducted by telephone and broadcast over WKCR-FM New York; copy of interviews courtesy of WKCR-FM
Item 69-71: Conversation between Betty Freeman and Steve Pouliot concerning Harry Partch, 1977: Tapes courtesy of Betty Freeman
Item 72: Interview with Larry Austin about Harry Partch, 1980: North Texas State University, Denton, TX, interview conducted by Tom McGeary

Folder 7: Interviews, Vol. 7

Item 73-74: Interview with John Garvey about Harry Partch, 1979: Urbana, Illinois, interview conducted by Ben Johnston
Item 75-78: Interview with Harry Partch, conducted by Vivian Perlis, 1974: San Diego. This interview was conducted as part of the Yale School of Music Oral History Project, Vivian Perlis, Director. Tape duplicate provided by Yale Oral History Project in 1979. Further duplication is prohibited without permission of original source.
Item 79: Interview with Pauline Oliveros about Harry Partch, 1986: Interview conducted by Betty Freeman Beverly Hill, CA
Item 80: Interview with Marshall Glasier, 1979: Interviewed by Ben Johnston, New York, NY. Duplicate of item 50
Item 81: Reminiscences of Partch by Gordon Onslow-Ford and Betty Freeman, 1977: Duplicate of item 52

Folder 8: Duplicate Cassettes, Vol. 1

Item 1: Harry Partch: Lecture and demonstration delivered at Royce Hall, UCLA, 1966: Part of the 20th Century Music Series. A slightly abridged version of the lecture was printed in Source No. 1 (January 1967)
Item 2: Harry Partch: Lecture delivered at the University of Hawai, 1971: Part of the Festival of the Arts of This Century. Copy provided by University of Hawaii (courtesy of John Van der Slice)
Item 3: Partch: A monologue about dramatic ideas in music, ca. 1965: Tape from Peter Yates Collection (series 12), University of California at San Diego, Mandeville Library, Special Collections Dept. Tape made by Peter Yates, probably in Los Angeles in 1965-1966. Duplicate cassette made by permission of Special Collections Department, UCSD Library.
Item 4: Partch: "A Quarter-Sawcut Lecture on Intonation" / (Quarter-Sawcut Lecture continued), ca. 1967: A lecture presented on tape to Tanglewood ASUC conference summer of 1967 / Dreamer That Remains - copy of soundtrack for film by Stephen Pouliot and Betty Freeman
Item 5: Partch: "Oedipus the King", 1952: Duplicate from Mills College Library of original performance; of Partch's settings of "Oedipus" in the W. B. Yeats translation; Two cassettes; Dolby B; copy provided courtesy of Mills College, Oakland.
Item 6: Partch: "Oedipus the King", 1952: Duplicate from Mills College Library of original performance; of Partch's settings of "Oedipus" in the W. B. Yeats translation; Two cassettes; Dolby B; copy provided courtesy of Mills College, Oakland.
Item 7: "A Soul Tormented by Contemporary Music Looks for a Humanizing Alchemy.", 1957: Lecture and demonstration of excerpts from"The Bewitched". Presented at the University of Illinois Auditorium on March 24, 1957. Presented two days before premiere of Partch's "The Bewitched". Two Cassettes. Dolby B. Duplicate of tape in U. of I. Music Library (Special Collections/Tape MO 48932)
Item 8: "A Soul Tormented by Contemporary Music Looks for a Humanizing Alchemy.", 1957: Lecture and demonstration of excerpts from "The Bewitched". Presented at the University of Illinois Auditorium on March 24, 1957. Presented two days before premiere of Partch's "The Bewitched". Two Cassettes. Dolby B. Duplicate of tape in U. of I. Music Library (Special Collections/Tape MO 48932)
Item 9: "U.S. Highball", 1961: Ensemble conducted by Jack McKenzie; duplicate of tape in U. of I. Music Library (Special Collections/Tape MO 60260) (? dup from Gate 5 recording); Composer: Harry Partch
Item 10: Partch-Johnston "The Wooden Bird" (incidental music for play by Wilford Leach), undated: Recorded as improvised by Partch and Johnston at Gualala, Ca., two reels; copy of original tape now at Northwestern University Music Library, Ben Johnston Collection
Item 11: Partch: "Revelation in the Courthouse Park", 1961: Complete premiere performance, University of Illinois, ensemble conducted by John Garvey. two cassettes; duplicate from tape in University of Illinois Music Library (Special collections/ Tape MO 48981)
Item 12: Partch: "Revelation in the Courthouse Park", 1961: Complete premiere performance, University of Illinois, ensemble conducted by John Garvey. two cassettes; duplicate from tape in University of Illinois Music Library (Special collections/ Tape MO 48981)

Folder 9: Duplicate Cassettes, Vol. 2

Item 13: Lecture by Partch prior to live performance of "Plectra and Percussion Dances"/ Interview with Madeline Tourtelot and Harry Partch prior to screening of Tourtelot's film "Windsong" on WTTW-TV, 1953, 1958: International House, Berkeley, Copy from Marshall Collection, Tape 5 / Chicago, Copy from Marshall Collection, Tape 3
Item 14: Cassette of performances of Partch by American Festival of Microtonal Music, Johnny Reinhard, Director, ca. 1986: 1. "December 1942" - J.R. voice; Bradford Catler, fretless bass; 5/30/87;Â 2. "The Night of Sorrow" - J.R. intoned voice; Kenneth Edwards, viola; 6/2/86; 3. "Two Studies on Ancient Greek Scales" - Jon Catler, guitar "Just"; J.R. bassoon 6/2/86; 4. "In the Springtime on the Southside of the Yangzee Kiang" - J.R. voice; Kenneth Edwards, viola 6/2/86 - tape courtesy of Johnny Reinhard
Item 15: Marshall Tape 23/27/26/25, undated: Duplicates
Item 16: Marshall Tapes 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 24, undated
Item 17: Marshall Tapes 33, 34, 35 and 36, undated
Item 18: Marshall Tapes 5 and 6, undated
Item 19: Marshall Tapes 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, undated
Item 20: Marshall Tapes 12, 17, 14, 16, undated
Item 21: Marshall Tapes 16 and 13, undated
Item 22: Harry Partch Archive Tape 5 & 6, 1945: Dups from glass base acetate recordings of Partch compositions made in Madison, Wisc.
Item 23: Interview between Peter Yates and Harry Partch, 1960: Probably made at Los Angeles, Sept. 1960.
Item 24: Interview between Studs Terkel and Harry Partch, 1962: Made in Chicago (as preview to Water! Water! production). Interview later broadcast on WFMT Radio, Chicago. Tape courtesy of WFMT Radio, Chicago.

Folder 10: Duplicate Cassettes, Vol. 3

Item 25: Oral comments by Betty Freeman, 1989: Regarding Partch chronology; taped in Champaign, Ill, with Thomas McGeary
Item 26: Partch performances by the American Festival of Microtonal Music Concerts, 1986-87: Tape courtesy of Johnny Reinhard. "The Night of Sorrow": "In the Springtime on the South Side of the Yangzee Kiang" (Nov. 2, 1986 at Saint Peter's Church in New York City) Johnny Reinhard, intoned voice, Kenneth Edwards, viola; "December 1942 - Come Away Death and the Heron" (May 30, 1987 at Merkin Concert Hall Concert Hall in New York City, World Premiere) Johnny Reinhard, intoned voice, Bradford Catler, fretless guitar; "Two Studies on Ancient Greek Scales arr. from HM and BM" (Nov. 2, 1986 at Saint Peter's Church in New York City) Jon Catler, Just Intonation fretted guitar, Johnny Reinhard, bassoon; "Yankee Doodle Fantasy" (May 30, 1987 at Merkin Concert Hall Concert Hall in New York City) Deborah Mirabai Rothrock, soprano, Joshua Pierce, DX7/E chip (Just Intonation keyboard), Andrew Bolotowsky, tin flute, Matthew Sullivan, oboe, Johnny Reinhard, flexotone and conductor
Item 27: Memorial meeting held at the home of Lou Harrison (1 of 2), 1974: Those present include Betty Freeman, Danlee Mitchell, Lou Harrison, and Jack Laron.
Item 28: Memorial meeting held at the home of Lou Harrison (2 of 2), 1974
Item 29: Pitch for the International Microtonalist, vol. 1, no. 3, Winter, 1988-99: Contains "December 1942": "Come Away Death", "The Heron", "The Rose", by Harry Partch. From the liner notes: "Come Away Death," is an adaption of the jester's song in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." The brief second and final movements appear related to music found in Partch's "Intrusions." Johnny Reinhard, intoned voice/Bradford Catler, fretless guitar.