Lou Harrison: Chamber and Gamelan Works

Lou Harrison (Composer), Kronos Quartet, The Manhattan Percussion Ensemble Gamelan Sekar Kembar (Orchestra), violin; "Machiko Kobialka," tack piano I; "James Barbagallo," tack piano II; "Patricia Jennerjohn," celesta; "Don Marconi," percussion; "Jerome Neff," percussion; "Robert Hughes," conductor; "Scott L. Hartman," French horn; "Susan Bates", violin; "Lou Harrison," suling player; "Paul Price," conductor "Daniel Kobialka (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: violin; "Machiko Kobialka," tack piano I; "James Barbagallo," tack piano II; "Patricia Jennerjohn," celesta; "Don Marconi," percussion; "Jerome Neff," percussion; "Robert Hughes," conductor; "Scott L. Hartman," French horn; "Susan Bates", violin; "Lou Harrison," suling player; "Paul Price," conductor "Daniel Kobialka
• Orchestra: Kronos Quartet, The Manhattan Percussion Ensemble Gamelan Sekar Kembar
• Composer: Lou Harrison
• Audio CD (May 1, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New World Records
• ASIN: B000F7MFY2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,728 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #42 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Viola

Editorial Reviews

Lou Harrison (1917–2003) believed fervently in music’s power to create cultural bridges. To this end he applied his prodigious skills and creative energies to creating syncretic works that link diverse musical languages. Faulted at times for his eclecticism, Harrison responded with a vibrant defense of hybridity, cultivating a musical multiculturalism long before that term—or even the concept—held the currency it now enjoys. Harrison’s major contributions to twentieth-century American music lie in three main areas: (1) the development of the percussion ensemble as a viable performance medium; (2) the linkage of Asian and Western musical styles; and (3) the exploration of just intonation tuning systems. All three are represented in the works on this disc. The influences manifest in the works on this disc remained with Harrison for the rest of his career. He ultimately composed over three dozen gamelan pieces and the estampie became one of his favorite forms (he used it in a dozen works, ranging from solo keyboard to full orchestra). Nor did his advocacy of just intonation systems diminish: he called for pure intervals in works in all genres. But the most distinctive characteristic of Harrison’s music lies in its inherent plurality. He was drawn to community, both in performance groups such as the gamelan and the percussion ensemble, and in the compositions themselves, which unite elements from various times and places. Harrison’s originality lay in the way he creatively combined these elements to produce novel syntheses. His fervent advocacy of hybridity led to a type of transethnic music that truly foreshadowed the post-modern celebration of diversity. The reissue of this seminal release from the CRI catalog features extensive new liner notes by Harrison biographer Leta Miller.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chamber and Gamelan works, July 9, 2007

By 

Ira T. Firestone (So east michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lou Harrison: Chamber and Gamelan Works (Audio CD)

The harrison works on this disc are absoultely fabulous. Particularly haunting was a 'concerto' for horn and gamelan ensemble. Couldn't get the tune out of my head!

3.0 out of 5 stars Where is the Gamelon?, November 7, 2011

By 

Vivian - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lou Harrison: Chamber and Gamelan Works (Audio CD)

I hunted amazon.com for one CD that would provide fresh but authentic gamelon music, and thought this one would fit the bill. And there are some wonderful gamelon pieces. However, several pieces are chamber works with, sadly, no gamelon. At least to my ear. I also hoped for a few more rousing percussion displays, like the ones I have witnessed in concerts featuring the Gamleon Orchestra of Bates College. amazon.ccom did not have a lot of gamelon works available, and even fewer had samples. I realize this is a rather esoteric music choice, and I should have tried to find more independent reviews and sources. As i said, I do enjoy several tracks and I will keep it.