Re: [tuning] Partch and the Chromelodeon

quoth Partch, Genesis, 2nd edition page 210:

"The musicality, versatility, and potentialities of these old-fashioned
harmoniums are constantly amazing. I would not trade my two Chromelodeons
for any electric organs that I have ever heard."

We had this discussion before... Just sampling the Chromeldeon or retuning a
pre-set "reed organ" sample is not going to be an adequate replacement for
one of Partch's organs. In particular, the swell levers are extremely
difficult to replace, and Partch's scoring uses the swells, octave stops,
and the low-pressure sounds of large (keyboard-chromatic) clusters at
essential moments.

----- Original Message -----
From: <Afmmjr@aol.com>
To: <tuning@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2000 11:46 PM
Subject: [tuning] Partch and the Chromelodeon

> Somehow the "authenticity" issue is challenged once again with the
following
> by Harry Partch in the Enclosures series (p.120 from a letter by Partch to
> Lucie and Larry Marshall).
>
> December 23, 1949 -
>
> "With the steam heat and thermostats of Madison I managed to keep the
> Chromelodeon in pretty good tune 8 months of the year. Here, it is almost
> heartbreaking. If I could tune it at one temperature then at least I
could
> profit by experience. But it takes seven days working about ten hours a
day
> (this time--and I actually hurried), so even that is impossible. Which
> reinforces the need either for an electronic tone or a reed made out of
some
> alloy less susceptible to temperature changes than brass? Are you
beginning
> to see why I become so aggravated when anyone suggests that I devote my
> lifetime to the parthenogenetical dropping of strange musical
instruments?"
>
> Elsewhere Partch describes the chromelodeon as "unmusical" and swears it
off
> for future compositions. Jon Szanto?
>
> Johnny Reinhard
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Was the salesman clueless? Productopia has the answers.
> http://click.egroups.com/1/4633/2/_/239029/_/962487989/
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> I would not trade my two Chromelodeons for any electric organs that I have
ever > > heard."

I will continue to put info up that has not been printed showing Partch's
ambivalence with the chromelodeon. It appears that there are contradictions
for Partch, a sort of love/hate relationship with his keyboards. Since the
contrary material has not been properly presented, I plan to add any more
examples of negative chromelodeon feelings by Partch.

The more I read "Enclosure 3" by Partch, the more human, and understandable
Partch the pioneer becomes. While I myself am an acoustic musician, it
appears that Partch pioneered the concept of electronics, certainly
amplification, for his music.

Johnny Reinhard
AFMM