The iconoclastic composer and theorist Harry Partch subtitled his final large-scale work “a ritual of Dream and Delusion”. Delusion of the Fury organically interweaves music, theater, and movement into a haunting, otherworldly tapestry. The imposing presence of Partch’s homebuilt instruments heightens the emotional subtext of the Japanese and African tales upon which this work is based. Completed in 1965, Delusion of the Fury was premiered four years later at UCLA, and subsequently recorded for CBS Masterworks. Appearing for the first time on CD, the sonics open up and resonate as if Partch’s Marimba Eroica, Cloud Chamber Bowls, and other sculpture-like instruments were present in the room with you. A pity that Innova could not include the bonus disc bundled with Delusion’s original LP release, on which Partch demonstrates his instrument collection. What’s important, though, is that this gripping masterpiece, lovingly performed by its creators, is available again. And the annotations are excellent too.
