KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Portrait of Composer Colin McPhee

Analog Audio

Event Type

Documentaries

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

AM.1980.11.05.c1

Program Length

18 min

Dates

1980-11-05 | broadcast
| 402 | created

Description

Charles Amirkhanian introduces the life and music of Colin McPhee (1901-1964), with commentary by Henry Cowell and Lou Harrison. A classically trained pianist and composer, McPhee became prominent in the 1930's modern music movement in New York. His life and music changed direction when he discovered Balinese music in 1931. He moved to Bali and thoroughly studied the indigenous music. McPhee composed music incorporating Balinese themes. His book “Music in Bali”, is the definitive text on the subject.

Listen to McPhee and Benjamin Britten performing "Tabuh Teluh," Balinese melodies transcribed for piano four-hands, and excerpts from the 1936 orchestral suite "Tabuh Tabuhan", and "Concerto for Piano and Wind Octet."

Genres

New music

Musical Selections

Tabuh Teluh [based on a traditional Indonesian melody] / Colin McPhee --Tabuh Tabuhan [excerpt] (1936) / Colin McPhee -- Concerto for Piano and Wind Octet [excerpt] (1928) / Colin McPhee

Performers

Colin McPhee, piano (Tabuh Teluh)
Benjamin Britten, piano (Tabuh Teluh)

Subjects

New music
Gamelan
Music -- Indonesia
Piano music (4 hands)
Pianos (2) with orchestra
Orchestral music
Symphonies
Concertos (Piano with wind ensemble)

Related places

Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

McPhee, Colin, 1900-1964
Amirkhanian, Charles
Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965
Harrison, Lou, 1917-2003
Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976