Episode 45: Charles Corey (Harry Partch Institute Tour)

I got to meet Charles Corey, composer and Director of the Harry Partch Institute, when I visited my friend and percussion colleague Bonnie Whiting at the University of Washington in Seattle back in October of 2016. He generously gave me a tour and allowed me to play some of the iconic instruments during my visit. It was a real treat and something that I had planned to document here on the podcast. In fact, I got so excited that I only pushed the record button once instead of twice, so I lost the audio of our tour. 

Charles was kind enough to send me a new recording of the instruments and re-create our tour via Skype. It was also an opportunity to get his unique perspective on Partch and how Partch's work has influenced his own work.

Here's a link to hear/experience some of Partch's instruments: http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org/features/feature_partch.html

Here are some photos from my visit.

Harry Partch demonstrates his instruments. Buy this video at http://innova.mu/artist1.asp?skuID=312

Here's a recording of Partch playing my favorite piece of his: The Letter (1943, rev. 1972).

'The Letter' (1943, revised 1972). Exerpt liner notes from 'The Harry Partch Collection, Volume 2'; 2004; New World Records: The Letter was originally written in 1943 for voice with Adapted Guitar and Kithara ... The present version dates from may 1972, and was made on request for inclusion in the film 'The Dreamer That Remains: A Portrait of Harry Partch'.