Listen to Program 5 (59:00)
	American composers have enjoyed using whatever materials they have at hand to make music, and America, as a highly industrial country, has plenty of trash to recycle into musical instruments. Harry Partch led this movement as a pioneer of invention - he invented his own instruments, his own tuning, and his own kind of theater. Ben Johnston, working with Partch, invented his own notation. Cage invented the prepared piano. The effect of these inventions is to render the composers self-sufficient and free from institutions, establishing the maverick image.

"If you build it, they will come"
An essay by music critic and author Kyle Gann.

The Bowed Piano Ensemble
DSL/Cable modem 56k modem (10:04s)
"Interview" (48:49s)
For over 25 years Stephen Scott has been bowing and plucking the inside of the piano. Watch his 12 piece ensmble play "Entrada." This video was created by APM's own Amy Scott of Marketplace (Stephen's daughter.)

Margaret Leng Tan and the Prepared Piano
DSL/Cable modem 56k modem (12:37s)
"Interview" (36:35s)
Watch Margaret Leng Tan demonstrate how to prepare the piano for John Cage's "Bacchanale."

Alison Knowles of "Fluxus"
DSL/Cable modem 56k modem (3:04s)
"Interview" (68:32s)
Watch Alison Knowles show off her newly made instrument--a handmade walnut-stained paper filled with beans.

The Rhythmicon
An online version of Henry Cowell's experimental instrument.

Harry Partch's Instruments
A virtual collection of Partch's idiosyncratic musical devices.

John Cage Henry Cowell Aaron Copland Conlon Nancarrow Harry Partch Ben Johnston Henry Brant Trimpin Nic Collins David Weinstein John Morton

In addition to host Suzanne Vega and San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, this show includes the voices of these composers, performers, and scholars:

Margaret Leng Tan "Interview" (36:35s)
Henry Brant: "Interview" (51:41s)
Henry Cowell
Conlon Nancarrow: "Archival Interview" (1983) (9:09s)
A special thank you to James Greeson for sharing the Nancarrow interview with us.
Charles Amirkhanian: "Interview" (76:02s)
Philip Blackburn (on Harry Partch) "Interview" (54:09s)
Dean Drummond (on Harry Partch) "Interview" (31:40s)

IN TALK
If You Build It, They Will Come...or will they? Other composers? Listeners? Or is it merely a matter of being self-reliant, which one might say is crucial for a maverick.

Can you suggest any revolutionary technique for making a new use of an old instrument?
What's the strangest instrument you've ever heard?
Have you ever built an instrument yourself?