Michael Harrison
Encyclopedia
Michael Harrison is an American
composer
, influenced by both Western classical and North Indian classical music
.
Harrison studied composition at the University of Oregon
and the Juilliard School
in the late 1970s, and began investigating alternative tunings while studying Indian classical music
with Pandit Pran Nath
in this same period (Wise 2005). In 1986, he designed and created the “harmonic piano,” an extensively modified seven-foot grand piano with the ability to alternate between two different tunings to play 24 notes per octave on a conventional keyboard. For the past 25 years, Harrison has performed his own music throughout the United States
and Europe
.
His own works include From Ancient Worlds and Revelation, both for piano in just intonation
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, influenced by both Western classical and North Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
.
Harrison studied composition at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
and the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in the late 1970s, and began investigating alternative tunings while studying Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
with Pandit Pran Nath
Pran Nath
Pran Nath is a theoretical physicist working at Northeastern University, with research focus in elementary particle physics. He holds a Matthews Distinguished University Professor chair.-Research:...
in this same period (Wise 2005). In 1986, he designed and created the “harmonic piano,” an extensively modified seven-foot grand piano with the ability to alternate between two different tunings to play 24 notes per octave on a conventional keyboard. For the past 25 years, Harrison has performed his own music throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
His own works include From Ancient Worlds and Revelation, both for piano in just intonation
Just intonation
In music, just intonation is any musical tuning in which the frequencies of notes are related by ratios of small whole numbers. Any interval tuned in this way is called a just interval. The two notes in any just interval are members of the same harmonic series...
.
Albums
- (1980) - The Crystal Flame
- (1987) - In Flight. Fortuna Records CD FOR 17042-2
- (1993) - From Ancient Worlds. New Albion Records CD 42
- (2000) - Love's Glory: Mystical Poems of Rumi & Mafiz
- (2006) - RUMI: Lovedrunk (with Shahram Shiva). [S.l.: s.n.]
- (2007) - Revelation: Music in Pure Intonation. Cantaloupe CD 21043.
- (2007) - Cellorchestra
Other compositions
- For My Father: Flute, violin, cello and piano, 1994
- Song of the Rose: Cello and piano, 1993
- Birds of Paradise: Jazz ensemble, 1990
- 1001 Nights: Jazz ensemble, 1990
- Symphonic Cortege: Full orchestra, 1987–88
- African Child: world music ensemble (tuned in "just tuning"), 1988
- Tactus: Flugelhorn, Piano and percussion, 1984–85
- The Swan Has Flown to the Mountain Lake: Flute, harp and cello, 1984
- Ecstatic poems of Rumi: Soprano and piano, 1983–84
- For Oboe: Oboe, 1983
- Reminiscent Dances: String Orchestra, 1982
- Choral Work No. 1: Five singers (SAATB), 1981
- Choral Work No. 2: Five singers (SAATB), 1981
- Crystal Kyrie: 2 sopranos, 13 crystal goblets in pure intonation, 1979
- Zikr: SATB Choir with soprano soloist, 1979
- Atlantis: Flute, clarinet, piano and tabla, 1979
- Call of the Beloved: Soprano, flute, harp and piano, 1979
- Dance of the Sorcerers: Flute, cello, piano, tabla & tamboura, 1977–78
- Sonnet XVIII: Alto and piano, 1977
Further reading
- Gann, Kyle. 1990. "Shifting the Scales (Michael Harrison, Bernadette Speach, Alvin Singelton, Louise Talma)". Village Voice 35, no. 10 (March 6): 88.
- Gann, Kyle. 1991. "Tune Up and Drop Out (American Festival of Microtonal Music: Michael Harrison, Wyschnegradsky, Sharp, Ives, Bach)". Village Voice 36, no. 27 (July 2): 86.
- Griffiths, Paul. 2001. "In Performance: Classical Music; Whitman's Sampler by Four Innovators". New York Times (October 21)
- Wise, Brian. 2005. "A Music Man Who Restores Pianos". New York Times ( June 12).