5 Things to Know About Harry Partch’s Custom Instruments

Partch rejected the standard 12-tone equal temperament system used in most Western music. He found it limiting and instead built instruments to play in 43-tone pure intonation.

His instruments were custom-made to produce microtonal pitches not available on pianos or guitars. This allowed him to compose music with far more subtle intervals than conventional instruments.

Partch’s creations include the Chromelodeon, a retuned reed organ, and the Cloud Chamber Bowls. These instruments often used unusual materials like glass bowls, bamboo, and artillery shells.

He designed his instruments to be played in live, theatrical performances rather than in concert halls. Partch called his works “corporeal” music, blending sound with dance, drama, and ritual.

His approach was not a gimmick but a serious attempt to expand musical expression. Partch believed 12-tone tuning was a historical accident, not a natural law.