Lou Harrison

The Profile

Lou Harrison (1917–2003) was an American composer who fused Western concert traditions with Asian musical practices, notably Indonesian gamelan. A champion of just intonation and new instrument building, he collaborated with figures such as John Cage and wrote widely for percussion, voice, and orchestra.

American composer; birth–death: 1917–2003; integrated gamelan and just intonation into concert music; collaborated with John Cage (Double Music, 1941); created works including La Koro Sutro, Symphony on G, Symphony No. 4 “Last Symphony,” and numerous concerti and suites.

A favorable overview of Lou Harrison via the anthology A Portrait. It emphasizes his rhythm-and-melody focus, East/Javanese-Balinese influences, and approachable contemporary style. Highlights include Symphony No. 4 with Al Jarreau, Solstice, Concerto in slendro, and the Cage collaboration Double Music.