Harry Partch on Film: Delusion of the Fury


Sunday, March 7th, 2004


7:30pm


$7 general / $4 students, seniors


----> Event Description <---------------------------------------

The Harry Partch Foundation has given us a very rare opportunity
to see the original 16mm film of maverick composer Harry Partch's masterpiece and most elaborate work.


Partch is well known in new music circles as an iconclastic composer and instrument builder. Born in Oakland, he spent much of his life working in California, systematically developing a rich body of work that reaches back to antiquity and archaic musical principles of music theater.

Unfortunately his hand-made instruments are difficult to
transport and so more difficult to hear in person, let alone to
be present at a staging of his naturally theatrical works. As he once said "Hell, i'm not like John Cage. All Cage needs is a gong, a carrot juicer and a toothbrush."

"Delusion of the Fury: A Ritual Dream and Delusion" enacts two
interlocking fables, one Japanese and one African. It was written for six actors, four singers and a large ensemble of Partch's own handmade instruments, and premiered in January 1969 at UCLA. The piece is the culmination of Partch's work with concept of "corporeality," a kind of total theater, integrating music, dance, stagecraft and ritual.

The film version incorporates this idea, integrating camerawork
and montage, to bring vividly forth on screen this challenging
and rarely staged work. It was released in 1971, directed by
longtime Partch associate Madeline Tourtelot and edited
by Les Blank.

Presented in cooperation with Other Minds.
Programmed by Konrad Steiner.


----> Venue Info <----------------------------------------------

SF Cinematheque @ California College of Art
Tinken Hall, 1111 Eighth Street at Irwin (at 16th St)
San Francisco


By Muni
take the 19 Polk to De Haro & 16th walk east 2 blocks then 1 block
north on Wisconsin
-OR-
take the 22 Fillmore to Wisconsin and walk 2 blocks north (away from
Jackson Playground)


----> Additional Info <-----------------------------------------

sfc@sfcinematheque.org
415-552-1990
www.sfcinematheque.org/