Lou Harrison
Born: 14th May 1917, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A
Died: 2nd February 2003, Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A
Nationality: American
Lou Silver Harrison was an American composer, music critic, music theorist, painter, and creator of unique musical instruments. Harrison initially wrote in a dissonant, ultramodernist style similar to his former teacher and contemporary, Henry Cowell, but later moved toward incorporating elements of non-Western cultures into his work. Notable examples include a number of pieces written for Javanese style gamelan instruments, inspired after his introduction to noted gamelan musician Kanjeng Notoprojo. Harrison would create his own musical ensembles and instruments with his partner, William Colvig, who are now both considered founders of the American gamelan movement and world music; along with composers Harry Partch and Claude Vivier, and ethnomusicologist Colin McPhee.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Harrison
Browse: Harrison, L
Further Reading: Harrison, L
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Gil Rose on the Boston Modern Orchestra Project
24th Sep 2026
Recently hailed as 'the saint of American opera' by Gramophone, the intrepid conductor discusses the 'fascination with music of the recent past' which prompted him to found his own orchestra (and eventually record-label) three decades ago.
Popular Genres: Harrison, L
Orchestral
Chamber
Instrumental
Choral
Concertos
Popular Works: Harrison, L
- A Summerfield Set for solo piano (4)
- Air for the poet (2)
- Ariadne (1987) (4)
- Bonba (1939) (2)
- Bubaran Robert (3)
- Canticle No. 1 (3)
- Canticle No. 3 (6)
- Concerto for the Violin with Percussion Orchestra (4)
- Concerto in Slendro (1961) (3)
- Doubel Music (3)
- Elegy (3)
- First Concerto for flute and percussion (4)
- Fugue (1941) (3)
- Gending Chelsea for Gamelan (2)
- Grand Duo (6)
- Labyrinth, No 3 (2)
- May Rain (2)
- Music for Violin with various instruments (2)
- New First Suite for Strings (3)
- New York Waltzes (3)
- Philemon and Baukis (2)
- Pipa Concerto (3)
- Sanctus for Contralto and Piano (3)
- Seven Pastorales (3)
- Solstice (1950) Parts I & II (2)
- Song of Queztecoatl (6)
- Strict Songs (1955, rev. 1992) (3)
- String Quartet Set (1978–9) (2)
- Suite for Cello and Harp (3)
- Suite for Percussion (1942) (3)
- Suite for Symphonic Strings (5)
- Suite from the ‘Marriage at the Eiffel Tower’ (3)
- Suite No. 2 (4)
- Symphony No. 2 (Elegiac) (3)
- Symphony No. 4 'Last Symphony' (3)
- Symphony No. 5 (2)
- Third Symphony (3)
- Varied trio (4)
- Vestuint Silve (1994) (3)
- Violin Concerto (4)
Recent Best Sellers: Harrison, L
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Special offer. American Mavericks
Jeremy Denk (piano), Paul Jacobs (organ) San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2013, Editor's Choice
SACD: Original price $16.50 Reduced $14.02 -
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Special offer. America Again
Lara Downes (piano)
CD: Original price $18.50 Reduced $15.35Download from $10.00 -
Special offer. A Bridge of Dreams
with Andrew Lawrence-King (harp), Paul Hillier (recitation) Ars Nova Copenhagen
SACD: Original price $10.75 Reduced $8.60Download from $10.00 -
Cage, Ginastera, Harrison, Varèse: Percurama - American Percussion Works
Percurama Percussion Ensemble, Jean Thorel
CD: $14.25Download from $7.00
