Harry Partch

Description

Bound scores, microfilms of some conducting scores, books, dissertations (bound or on microfilm), back-up duplicate tapes, and records are housed in the general collection of the Music and Performing Arts Library. The Music Special Collections unit holds scores of virtually all Partch’s compositions.

Archival material, interview cassettes, reel-to-reel tapes, photographs, musical scores and other discs and tapes are in the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. These materials are accessed through their description in the online finding aid mentioned below.  This collection also includes the records of the Bibliography Project, files containing originals or photocopies of articles (or sections in books) published about Partch. Also includes the Ben Johnston Transcription Project records, a box containing correspondence and copies of transcriptions (in Johnston’s special notation) of a number of early Partch scores.

Provenance

The Music and Performing Arts Library Harry Partch Collection (previously known as the Harry Partch Archive) was created in 1978 and comprised of material documenting the life and musical work of Harry Partch. The impetus for the Archive was a donation by Lauriston C. Marshall of a group of tapes, recordings, documents, and letters. Beginning in January 1991 Danlee Mitchell, president of the Harry Partch Foundation and Partch’s executor and heir, began depositing materials from Partch’s estate at the University of Illinois Music Library. Both archival record groups were transferred to the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music in Spring 2010, with published Harry Partch-related material remaining at the Music and Performing Arts Library Special Collections.

Location/Access

Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

See Also