大象传媒

Donald Macleod delves into a period when Lou Harrison was taught by Arnold Schoenberg.

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鈥檚 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.

Today, Donald follows Lou Harrison to Los Angeles where he began to take lessons with Arnold Schoenberg. Harrison had expected to be rejected by Schoenberg, but upon reading through some of his scores, the older composer willingly took Harrison on. When it was time for Harrison to leave and head to New York, Schoenberg鈥檚 advice was to study with nobody, only study Mozart.

When Harrison arrived in New York, he was soon despondent about the noise. His partner had left him for another man and Harrison, in despair, tried to take his own life. Harrison found New York鈥檚 gay life far more closeted than San Francisco, but he soon began a relationship with a Methodist minister, Bronx McGowan. This came to an end when McGowan was moved to another church. On the creative front Harrison started to work with dancers, composing works such as The Marriage at the Eiffel Tower.

Blaze of Day (Finale: Solstice)
California Symphony Orchestra
Barry Jekowsky, conductor

Piano Sonata No 3 (excerpt)
Nathan Williamson, piano

Symphony No 2 鈥淓legiac鈥� (excerpt)
American Composers Orchestra
Dennis Russell Davies, conductor

Hesitation Waltz (New York Waltzes)
Anthony De Mare, piano

Waltz in A (New York Waltzes)
Anthony De Mare, piano

Suite No 2
The New Professionals
Rebecca Miller, conductor

The Marriage at the Eiffel Tower (Overture)
California Parall猫le Ensemble
Nicole Paiement, conductor

The Only Jealousy of Emer (excerpt)
California Parall猫le Ensemble
Nicole Paiement, conductor

Suite for Cello and Harp
Dan Reiter, cello
Karen Gottlieb, harp

Produced by Luke Whitlock