Kronos and Partch

Dear Mr. Hart:

I read with interest your posting to the tuning list at onelist.com
regarding the upcoming Kronos Quartet concert. It is especially interesting
in that history and facts are being rewritten to suit publicity purposes.
From your posting:

>If you haven't heard Partch's
>work, take heed: his compositions capitalize upon Kronos' willingness
>to risk their rare virtuosity in a musical "I dare you to play this"
>fashion.

"His" compositions were never intended to be performed by a string quartet,
a homophonous concept that never interested him. It is only through the
questionable practice of transcription that they can even be 'playing'
Partch on their concerts. Virtually everyone who had a long term
relationship with Partch, either personal or professional, is aghast at
what they are doing *to* his music.

"I dare you to play this". What a childish reason to make music.

>...performers with a deep sense of commitment to the music they play

...just not to the aesthetics that underlay the notes, in this case. Even
in the mainly vertical niche market of "contemporary music" (or whatever
phrase one cares to use), Kronos once again vindicates P. T. Barnum
assessment.

As you can see, this subject is one close to me, having worked with Partch;
I've long since lost the ability to laugh off these indiscretions. If you
happen to be the one who formulated the press release, please be advised
that there are people out here that knew more about Partch then Dave and
the gang, and you've all done a complete disservice to one of America's few
unique composers -- you've lumped him back in with the rest of the crowd.

Sorry, but I had to call you on this.

Regards,
Jon Szanto
..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....
Jonathan M. Szanto : Corporeal Meadows - Harry Partch, online.
jszanto@adnc.com : http://www.corporeal.com/
..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....

"Jonathan M. Szanto" wrote:

> I've long since lost the ability to laugh off these indiscretions. If you
> happen to be the one who formulated the press release, please be advised
> that there are people out here that knew more about Partch then Dave and
> the gang, and you've all done a complete disservice to one of America's few
> unique composers -- you've lumped him back in with the rest of the crowd.
>
> Sorry, but I had to call you on this.
>
> Regards,
> Jon Szanto
>

Go get 'um Joe!

Despite all the lip service going on these days about Partch , I see only a
wave of "newspeak" designed to Decorporealize Partch and any would be
followers!

-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
www.anaphoria.com