Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy

American composers have long struggled against the momentum of the Western European classical tradition and the prestige it has held in America's cultural life. I did not want to have any stricture at all, I wanted to be completely free. So spoke Harry Partch, describing not only his own path, but also that of two other influential American composers: Lou Harrison and Terry Riley. They were attracted to musical ideas and sounds outside of the surrounding classical mainstream. Together they offer a deeper understanding of what those alternatives are and how they have affected American culture.