Henry Cowell’s Symphonic Series Number 6: One of the great American composers, he wrote an astonishing variety of symphonic works – large and small, intimate and bombastic, funny and poignant. An ardent ethnomusicologist, his influences range from Navaho chants to Japanese theater.

In this episode of American Highways, pianist Guy Livingston brings us orchestral music by this little-known American master whose career spanned most of the 20th century: Persian Set, Irish Suite, and Old American Country Set.

AMERICAN HIGHWAYS #67: Henry Cowell – “Local Color”

Theme Music :

Henry Cowell

Symphony #11 “Seven Rituals of Music”

VI. Vivace

Robert Whitney: Louisville Orchestra

First Edition FECD-0003

Henry Cowell

Persian Set (1957):

1. Moderato

2. Allegretto

3. Lento

4. Presto

Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, cond by Richard Auldon Clark

Koch 3-7220-2 HI

Scott Joplin

Solace

Richard Dowling, pianist

Klavier Records 77035 2004

Henry Cowell

Old American Country Set (1937-39)

i Blarneying Lilt

ii Meeting House

iii Comallya

iv Charivari

v Cornhuskin Hornpipe

Manhattan Chamber Orchestra

Koch 3-7220-2 HI

Henry Cowell

Three Songs On Poems Of Padraic Colum – I Heard In The Night

Mary Ann Hart, mezzo soprano; Les Scott, clarinet.

Albany Troy 240

Henry Cowell

Irish Suite For String Piano & Small Orchestra

i The Banshee

ii The Leprechaun

iii The Fairy Bells

Continuum Ensemble

Naxos Am Classics 8.559192