Harry Partch: Delusion of the Fury. A Ritual of Dream and Delusion Ensemble Musikfabrik

• Harry Partch (1901 - 1974): Delusion of the Fury:
• 1Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Exordium10:42
• 2Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Chorus of Shadows05:38
• 3Partch: Delusion of the Fury: The Pilgrimage04:20
• 4Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Emergence of the Spirit03:19
• 5Partch: Delusion of the Fury: A Son in Search of his Father’s Face06:02
• 6Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Cry from Another Darkness04:40
• 7Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Pray for Me03:05
• 8Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Sanctus - An Entr'acte05:50
• 9Partch: Delusion of the Fury: The Quiet Hobo Meal03:02
• 10Partch: Delusion of the Fury: The Lost Kid02:55
• 11Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Time of Fun Together07:29
• 12Partch: Delusion of the Fury: The Misunderstanding06:18
• 13Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Arrest, Trial, and Judgement05:32
• 14Partch: Delusion of the Fury: Pray for Me Again - A Strange Fear03:34
• Total Runtime01:12:26

Info for Harry Partch: Delusion of the Fury. A Ritual of Dream and Delusion

"It was only with Partch that a music emerged that could do equal justice to the physical need for a rhythmic pulse and the curiosity for new, unheard sounds; a music that carries you along even though - or better: because - you don't know it yet. A music for which one has no concept and which has no place, and which is nevertheless grounded in a strange way." (Heiner Goebbels)

The American composer Harry Partch (1901-1974) is considered a pioneer of the Just Intonation movement and was far ahead of his time when he began to explore microtonality. In the course of his life, he not only created a highly complex tonal system, but also designed and built an extensive set of instruments of sculptural beauty and great stage presence for its realisation, the only and original set of which is preserved in the USA.

On the occasion of the opening of the Ruhrtriennale 2013 with "Delusion of the Fury", staged by Heiner Goebbels, Harry Partch's entire set of microtonal instruments was reconstructed for the Ensemble Musikfabrik and learned by the musicians. It was only through this enormous reconstruction that performances of Partch's music outside his home country became possible at all. The dance and music theatre "Delusion of the Fury", whose recording by the Ensemble Musikfabrik sets new standards, is considered a key work and musical quintessence in Harry Partch's oeuvre. The extensive booklet documents the extraordinary music theatre production with texts by Heiner Goebbels and Edu Haubensak as well as numerous pictures.

"Dramatically the piece is a fusion of a Japanese Noh play with a west African legend, delivered as part incantation, part declamation, with a percussive score of glinting, pulsing rhythms and eruptive toccatas. It may not be as beguiling on disc as it was in the theatre, but it is still an utterly original experience." (The Guardian)

Ensemble Musikfabrik

Ensemble Musikfabrik
Ever since its formation, Ensemble Musikfabrik has had the reputation of being one of the leading ensembles for contemporary music. Following the literal meaning of its name, Ensemble Musikfabrik is particularly dedicated to artistic innovation. New, unknown, and often personally commissioned works in unusual media are typical of their productions. The results of their extensive work, usually taking place in close collaboration with the composers, are presented by the Cologne-based international soloist ensemble in about 80 concerts a year in both Germany and abroad, at Festivals, in their own series “Musikfabrik in WDR” and in regular radio recordings and CD productions. In 2014 the online Label Musikfabrik was founded.

The musicians themselves take the responsibility for making all-important decisions. Exploring forms of modern communication, and new possibilities for expression in musical and theatrical areas, are a focal point. Interdisciplinary projects that can include live electronics, dance, theatre, film, literature and creative artists, along with chamber music, and the confrontation with works using open form and improvisation, extend the traditional conducted ensemble concerts.

Lecture concerts and the experimentation with alternative concert forms involving audience participation are also part of this. Thanks to its extraordinary profile, and its superb artistic quality, the Ensemble Musikfabrik is sought after world wide and is a trusted partner of renowned composers and conductors. Since 2013 the ensemble owns a complete replicated set of the Harry Partch instruments. Furthermore, the double bell brass instruments are another outstanding trait of the ensemble’s eagerness to experiment.

The ensemble’s guest list is as prominent as it is long: It includes Mark Andre, Louis Andriessen, Stefan Asbury, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Unsuk Chin, Péter Eötvös, Brian Ferneyhough, Heiner Goebbels, Toshio Hosokawa, Michael Jarrell, Mauricio Kagel, Helmut Lachenmann, David Lang, Liza Lim, Benedict Mason, Mouse on Mars, Carlus Padrissa (La Fura dels Baus), Emilio Pomàrico, Enno Poppe, Wolfgang Rihm, Peter Rundel, Rebecca Saunders, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Ilan Volkov and Sasha Waltz.

Ensemble Musikfabrik is supported by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Kunststiftung NRW supports the series “Musikfabrik in WDR”.

This album contains no booklet.