Article on Harry Partch

It isn't every year that any slick magazine anywhere prints an article about Harry Partch and his music, let alone with his name on the cover as well. But it happened recently (no longer the most recent issue). I've not seen mention of it elsewhere on this list, so here goes.
The magazine is "Listener", subtitled Hi-Fi and Music Review. The issue is March-April 2001, otherwise Vol. 7, No.2, published by Englander Communications, LLC, 75 Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830.
I've subscribed for just about a year now and expect to renew, even though I'd never expect them to top this. The newsstand price is $5.95. This is a "Reader's Digest" size magazine, running to 128 pages.
There are nine of the stock black and white photos of Harry and instruments, including three of the CRI CD covers, reduced to a rather small size, but nicely supplemented by one of the Zymo-Xyl in color on the contents page. Author Elliott Kallen is very positive and sympathetic, which reviews of Partch's music in the hi-fi press have not always been. The article runs to four and a half pages of text and photos and is a good, concise summary for those unfamiliar with the subject, including recommended recordings to start with plus capsules of the CRI series of four and three of the Innova "Enclosures" series. There are no revelations here for the cognoscenti, but a few points worth bringing out. For example, during a span of sixteen years Partch moved fifteen times! And, some of the 1950's master tapes were made at 15 ips in stereo, so these are only recently available other than in the original mono LP format. Only Gilmore's book is mentioned, but this is excusable as the others have more depth than most would care to plumb.
This is one of a number of lesser-known publications in this field, some of which go back many years now. I don't follow them all, but this is the first I can recall of any mention of Partch outside of the high volume types such as Stereo Review, High Fidelity and Audio (the latter two now defunct).

John,

--- In tuning@y..., "John F. Sprague" <jsprague@d...> wrote:
> It isn't every year that any slick magazine anywhere prints an
article about Harry Partch and his music, let alone with his name on
the cover as well. But it happened recently (no longer the most
recent issue). I've not seen mention of it elsewhere on this list,
so here goes.

Oooh, maybe you missed it: I posted it on the Corporeal Meadows
website as the issue hit the stands, and believe I sent a note to the
list. The author, Elliot Kallen, is a long-time Partch listener, and
has a nice audiophile service in the No. California.

> The magazine is "Listener", subtitled Hi-Fi and Music Review. The
issue is March-April 2001, otherwise Vol. 7, No.2, published by
Englander Communications, LLC, 75 Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich, CT
06830.

Yes, maybe someone can find copies on the stands...

>And, some of the 1950's master tapes were made at 15 ips in stereo,
so these are only recently available other than in the original mono
LP format.

Yup, that was fun doing.

>Only Gilmore's book is mentioned, but this is excusable as the
others have more depth than most would care to plumb.

Well, he *does* mention Blackburn's "Enclosure 3", which I know
Johnny Reinhard, among others, has found it to be a great deal of
help in Partch research.

> This is one of a number of lesser-known publications in this field,
some of which go back many years now. I don't follow them all, but
this is the first I can recall of any mention of Partch outside of
the high volume types such as Stereo Review, High Fidelity and Audio
(the latter two now defunct).

One other review that came out three years ago was in the similar
format magazine, although it's focus is on record collecting and
reviews, not audio; that would be "Fanfare" magazine. Info at:

http://www.corporeal.com/fanfare.html

I'm hoping, now that the current "Listener" has lapsed, that I can
get Mr. Kallen's article online, as I agree that it is a well-written
overview of current offerings.

And, since I've mentioned his name, thanks to Mr. Kallen for a nice
mention of Corporeal Meadows at the end of the article...

Cheers,
Jon