KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Labyrinth No. 3 by Lou Harrison (August 26, 1967)

Analog Audio

Event Type

Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

AM.1967.08.27

Program Length

19 min

Dates

| broadcast
| 1967-08-27 | created

Description

Recorded at the Cabrillo Music Festival in Aptos, CA, on August 26, 1967 this is Lou Harrison’s “Labyrinth No. 3,” for percussion ensemble. Originally scored for 11 percussionists it is possible that this particular performance was arranged for a differently sized ensemble. Regardless, this delightful work is perhaps one of the best examples of the many contemporary classical compositions for percussion orchestra that were created by young modern composers such a Colin McPhee and John Cage during the first half of the 20th century. Listening to this performance one can easily detect the influence of the gamelan music of Indonesia that McPhee helped introduced to Western audiences, and which Harrison later went on to champion. The performance here, under the direction of Gerhard Samuel, is presumably by members of the Cabrillo Festival orchestra and the recording is of quite good quality, enabling one to enjoy the wide range of instruments and intricate rhythms that were the hallmark of Harrison’s works for percussion.

Genres

20th century classical
New music

Musical Selections

Labyrinth No. 3, for percussion orchestra (1941) (18:40) / Lou Harrison

Performers

Gerhard Samuel, conductor

Subjects

20th century classical
New music
Percussion ensembles

Acknowledgment

Funding for the preservation of this program made possible through a grant by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Related place

Aptos (Calif.) (was recorded at)

Related Entities

Cabrillo Music Festival
Harrison, Lou, 1917-2003
Samuel, Gerhard