Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy
1994 / 58 min. / color
Directed by Michael Blackwood
Narrated by the composers
Consultant: Dennis Russell Davies
Harry Partch, Lou Harrison, and Terry Riley
American composers have long struggled against the momentum of the Western European classical tradition and the prestige it has held in America’s cultural life. Featuring Harry Partch, Lou Harrison and Terry Riley, Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy addresses the freedom desired by the musicians and their efforts to gain recognition and opportunities while existing outside of the mainstream. When asked about his creative process, Terry Riley offered the following thought, “There’s always an endless frontier in music, because we’re dealing here with a person’s soul, you’re dealing with something that’s very basic, it’s a spiritual element.” (Terry Riley). Together the featured artists offer a deeper understanding of their alternative musical pursuits and how they have affected American culture.
Directed by
Michael Blackwood
Cast
Werner Bartschi
William Colvig
Dean Drummond
Betty Freeman
David Harrington
Lou Harrison
Danlee Mitchell
Pran Nath
Tom O’Horgan
Harry Partch (archive footage)
Terry Riley
Adolf Wolfli
Produced by
Michael Blackwood … producer
José Montes-Baquer … executive producer
Cinematography by
Mead Hunt
Film Editing by
Julie Sloane
Sound Department
Peter V. Meiselmann … sound recordist
Dieter Meyer … sound recordist
John Murphy … sound recordist
Joe Romano … sound recordist
Maddy Shirazi … sound editor
Camera and Electrical Department
Juliette DiGiovanni … assistant camera
Liz Dory … assistant camera (as Elizabeth Dory)
Otmar Schmid … still photographer
Seth Schneidman … still photographer
Kathrine Simonette … assistant camera
Helena Vagnières … still photographer
Andrew Yarme … assistant camera
Additional Crew
Laura Hahn … distribution director
Tatjana von Angern … assistant
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