Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy 1994)

American composers have long struggled against the momentum of the Western European classical tradition and the prestige it has held in Americas 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, Theres always an endless frontier in music, because were dealing here with a persons soul, youre dealing with something thats very basic, its 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. Also featured: Pandit Pran Nath, Betty Freeman, Bill Colvig, Tom O Horgan, David Harrington, AbelSteinbergWinant Trio