Lou Harrison (1917-2003)

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of American composer,
Lou Harrison


Lou Silver Harrison was an American, multi-faceted composer who
died in 2003. In his music he explored a synthesis of Asian and
Western influences, just intonation, and writing for percussion
ensemble. He also involved himself in the arts as a performer,
dancer, instrument maker, critic, puppeteer, poet, painter and
much more. Harrison’s interest in Asian cultures began when he
was very young, and remained a significant influence on his work
for the rest of his life He enjoyed working with Gamelan
percussion and instruments from Korea or China. With his partner
William Colvig, Harrison also made his own instruments including
an American Gamelan, for which he composed multiple works.
Harrison took lessons with Henry Cowell and Arnold Schoenberg,
and also collaborated with John Cage in exploring the
possibilities of percussion ensembles. His career as a composer
developed in the world of dance and theatre, supplementing his
income as a critic and, later, as a teacher.


Music Featured:


The Heart Sutra (Tial, Sariputro, ciuj Darmoj) Waltz in C (New
York Waltzes) First Concerto for Flute and Percussion Suite for
Symphonic Strings (excerpt) Largo Ostinato Prelude for Grandpiano
John Cage & Lou Harrison: Double Music Blaze of Day (Finale:
Solstice) Piano Sonata No 3 (excerpt) Symphony No 2 “Elegiac”
(excerpt) Hesitation Waltz (New York Waltzes) Waltz in A (New
York Waltzes) Suite No 2 The Marriage at the Eiffel Tower
(Overture) The Only Jealousy of Emer (excerpt) Suite for Cello
and Harp Beverly’s Troubadour Piece, for harp and percussion
Suite for Symphonic Strings (Nocturne) Four Strict Songs (Here is
Holiness) Concerto in slendro Pacifika Rondo (excerpt) Easter
Cantata A Waltz for Evelyn Hinrichsen Music for Bill and Me Young
Caesar (excerpts) Suite for violin and American Gamelan (excerpt)
Double Concerto for Javanese gamelan, violin and cello (excerpt)
Third Symphony (Largo ostinato) Piano Concerto with selected
orchestra (excerpt) O you whom I often and silently come where
you are Grand Duo (Polka) Fourth Symphony ‘Last Symphony’ (Largo)
Vestiunt Silve Pipa Concerto Mass to St Anthony (Gloria)


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC
Audio Wales and West


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Lou Harrison (1917-2003)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00209q6


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z