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Donald Macleod follows Harrison as he returns to California and settles down near Santa Cruz.

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.

In today's episode we see how Lou Harrison’s time in New York taught him that a busy city was not the right environment for him. After suffering from a nervous breakdown, he eventually returned home to his parents, south of San Francisco. His mother, Calline, suggested she buy Harrison a place of his own and they found a house on a former avocado farm near Santa Cruz. It was perfect for Harrison: quiet and isolated. He supplemented his income working with the fire crew of the local forestry team, and also as a veterinary nurse.

This was a period when Lou Harrison began to explore the possibilities of just intonation. He also received a generous grant which would allow him to attend a conference in Asia. In Tokyo he was able to explore culture to the full, from Japanese cuisine to Noh plays. He was very taken with the sound of the Zheng zither performed by a musician from Taiwan. He also made a journey to Korea where he encountered the small double-reed instrument, the piri. Once back in America, Harrison started making his own zither, and his Concerto in Slendro explores one of the two main tuning systems used by Balinese gamelans.

Beverly’s Troubadour Piece, for harp and percussion
Just Strings

Suite for Symphonic Strings (Nocturne)
The New Professionals
Rebecca Miller, conductor

Four Strict Songs (Here is Holiness)
University of California Santa Cruz Chamber Singers
University of California Santa Cruz Chamber Orchestra
Nicole Paiement, conductor

Concerto in Slendro
Maria Bachmann, violin
California Symphony Orchestra
Barry Jekowsky, conductor

Pacifika Rondo (excerpt)
Oakland Youth Orchestra
Robert Hughes, conductor

Easter Cantata
Michelle Rivard, mezzo-soprano
Brian Staufenbiel, tenor
University of California Santa Cruz Chamber Singers
California Parallèle Ensemble
Nicole Paiement, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock