Lou Harrison

Harrison's music often employs just intonation (pure intervals rather than equal temperament), creating unusually resonant harmonies and exotic-sounding scales. He wrote idiomatically for gamelan and incorporated Asian melodic and rhythmic principles into Western instruments. His music is rhythmically vital, often dance-based, and melodically memorable. Textures tend toward clarity and transparency, and he favored mixed percussion and unusual instrumental combinations.

He studied with Henry Cowell and absorbed American experimental traditions, befriending Cage and working closely with him. Indonesian gamelan profoundly influenced his timbral thinking and tuning systems. Korean court music shaped melodic approaches. His partner William Colvig helped build instruments, making practical experimentation central to his work. He influenced minimalists and composers interested in world music integration.

Early association with Cage and Cowell established experimental credentials. Work as dancer and choreographer shaped his understanding of rhythm and movement. Study of Asian music in the 1960s-70s transformed his style, leading to gamelan works and just intonation explorations. Late period synthesized all influences into accessible yet sophisticated works commissioned by major ensembles.

Harrison built many of his own instruments with partner William Colvig, creating 'American gamelan' sets tuned to just intonation from found materials—oxygen tanks, brake drums, and other industrial objects. This hands-on instrument-making reflected his belief that music should be physically and practically grounded, not just abstract notation.

He was an accomplished calligrapher and poet who designed his own scores with beautiful handwritten notation, seeing music-making as holistic art encompassing visual beauty—his scores are artworks in themselves, reflecting his Zen-influenced aesthetics.

Harrison appears primarily on new music and experimental programs, though his music's accessibility makes it suitable for broader audiences. Gamelan works appear in world music contexts. Growing recognition posthumously with recordings and performances increasing. Perfect for programmers interested in American experimentalism and authentic cross-cultural music. His centenary (2017) brought renewed attention.