Harry Partch "Revelation in the Courthouse Park" (Gate 5 Issue F) '62 weird as f

$

96

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Comments:  Cover is vg+ with a bit of of ringwear on the front (the pic makes it look worse, I think) and some price edits on the back (doesn't look like Partch's writing to me but who knows?); the stamp on the back provides an address for Partch of PO Box 3253 Van Neys, Calif. 91407, where Partch was living circa 1964; the seams and spine are solid, as is the overall feel.

Vinyl is vg+ with light marks on side A, plays very cleanly with just a couple spurious pops; side B has more light scratches and a quieter section in the middle where wafts of surface noise are plainly audible for several minutes; otherwise plays clean.

Nice copy of the original (1962) Gate 5 version of this weirdass "opera" by one of the genuine masters of such (in fact, this LP is just an excerpt of Partch's complete opera, which wouldn't be heard in complete form until the 2CD version on Tomato from 1989).  The first half of this recording, in particular, is as much about Partch's instruments (which are accompanied by voice, strings, brass band, and guitar, to incredible effect) as it is about the extremely tweaked performance by this particularly inspired group of players (the "Gate 5 Ensemble" of the University of Illinois).  Some rather extreme heights of exhuberance, pathos and confusion are achieved and explored.  Here's a few passages from Partch's text on the back cover: "Wunnanto Anda.  Primitive percussion ritual.  Heavenly daze and a Million Years.  Climax of Welcome" ... "Hell-Hounds of Madness" ... "the trampolinist rises high above the heads of the celebrators."  No, friends, this is not a Phish concert ...

"As a well-known American “experimental” composer (his labeling by the “critical” establishment of the mid-century), his circle of close friends was always very small, whether the interchange might be by personal visits, cocktail parties, or the U.S. mail. Looking at the ever-growing importance of Partch as we approach his centenary, this may seem somewhat strange, but to those few who happened to be close to him during his life of constant travel, this reality is all too clear. If Partch had any semblance of an extended family of friends and visitors it would have been in his latter years, in Sausalito, Petaluma and ultimately San Diego. Loneliness and a sense of isolation pervade much of Partch's music, and this “lack of community” was not only what Partch felt in his personal life, but also what he saw in the United States which he knew so intimately. Partch knew of the close personal and artistic Integration in the traditional cultures of Bali, Africa, the Americas, “primitive man”, and ancient Greek theater, yet he saw none of this first hand. His music (especially his later works) can be seen as his attempts (or fantasy) to rectify this void in his personal life, the lives of those around him, and society as a whole." -- Danlee Mitchell, 1999

"To fully appreciate the story line, you'll want to know about the historical story, but it isn't necessary to fully appreciate the music. The basic drama and commentary Partch is layering on it can't be fully realized without seeing the show live, of course. Actually, I'm not sure it could be fully realized even then.... The part that is fascinated by the spectacle without understanding we are in it too. In the opera what it comes down to is that Pantheus wants to see the sex.  Perhaps Pantheus is more of a personal demon, one that inhabits each of us. The part of us attracted to *watching* rather than doing, that wants to see the goings on without being a part of them. That makes sense for him as the little twerp he is, but it doesn't make sense for Partch to be railing against him so, unless he sees something much more insidious there, which he clearly does." - Kris Marker, sole Amazon customer review of Tomato CD ca. May 2014 (5 stars)

See my other auctions for more Partch and lots of other unusual, psych, experimental, electronic, avant, folk, weird stuff ... thousands more on the way from the same exploding stash of a long-time freak/collector and his "small circle" of afflicted friends.  Add us to your list of favorite sellers so you don't miss our next listing!

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