Top 5 Quotes by Harry Partch

Originality cannot be a goal. It is simply inevitable. The truly pathbreaking step can never be predicted, and certainly not by the person who makes it at the time he makes it. He clears as he goes, evolves his own

Originality cannot be a goal. It is simply inevitable. The truly pathbreaking step can never be predicted, and certainly not by the person who makes it at the time he makes it. He clears as he goes, evolves his own techniques, devises his own tools, ignores where he must. And his path cannot be retraced, because each of us is an original being.

Harry Partch

Goal, Steps, Technique

Harry Partch (2009). “Genesis of a Music: An Account of a Creative Work, Its Roots, and Its Fulfillments”, p.11, Da Capo Press

Having decided to follow my own intuitive path I began to write music on the basis of harmonized spoken words, for new instruments and in new scales.

Harry Partch

Writing, Path, Scales

Harry Partch (2009). “Genesis of a Music: An Account of a Creative Work, Its Roots, and Its Fulfillments”, p.6, Da Capo Press

Life is too precious to spend it with important people.

Harry Partch

People, Important, Life Is

The profession of music is lacking in horse sense, not only because the commonplace variety of horse is absent from its operations, but because parts of the horse are noticeably present.

Harry Partch

Horse, Operations, Music Is

Harry Partch, Thomas McGeary (2000). “Bitter Music: Collected Journals, Essays, Introductions, and Librettos”, p.174, University of Illinois Press