Enclosure 3

by H. Partch (Editor)

Book by

Genres: Music, Art

523 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1997

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attacking the "false intonation" of the accepted, Western, 12-tone music system, Partch developed a more pure, voice-like system of an 'octave' of twenty-nine degrees. Beginning with an elongated viola and moving on to a keyboard, Partch slowly created an orchestra of instruments capable of playing this microtonal music. Such systems are not new, and as a matter of fact they pre-date 12-tone chromatic scale. Consider the fact that pentatonic Blues we are so familiar with is based on a microtonal system created on fretless stringed instruments of Africa later, perhaps awkwardly, mated to instruments encountered in North America. The fact that Partch's ideas are sound and perceptive did not keep them from being rejected or considered a novelty. Still, the man was also a hobo, private nudist, diarist and correspondent with Yeats, among other things. This indexed, annotated, 523-page hardcover book is an assembly of Partch's writings, clippings, letters and more. Beautifully assembled and laid out it is a worthy testament to an underrated genius and fascinating individual.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best "(auto)biography" of Partch I've yet encountered. The photos, scribblings, notes, and scores that make up *Enclosure 3* are, to me, much more insightful than many other books and writings about Partch. If you like Partch (or at least find him interesting), and can track this down, this is a must-"read."

[Tom Newth · Rating 5 out of 5]

totally fascinating. first-rate biography, beautifully presented