American composer

Lou Harrison - an American Maverick

Lou Harrison - an American Maverick

LOU HARRISON (1917 - 2003) – Before commencing this survey I held Lou Harrison in disdain. Why? Because I once read a flip response from him in an article regarding the infamous trial of Henry Cowell in which he, as I recall, was one of the witnesses for the prosecution. Combine this with recordings in the late ‘50s, early ‘60s coupling his percussion pieces with those of John Cage, resulted in my total dismissal of him as being unworthy of my attention. I was even personally introduced to him, by my friend the artist John Paul Thomas, during intermission at the San Francisco Opera in the late ‘60s. I recall I was rather brusque and cold. Oh, how I now regret my behavior!