Compositions
Works spanning just intonation, raga, chamber music, and multimedia
-
Cello Constellations
“Harrison… creates dream like worlds with the psychological effects of these tunings and this work is a stunning example.”
-
Hijaz Prelude
“Jaunpuri is based on a traditional Indian raga, but shaped with Western compositional notation, structures, and harmony. An embellished piano melody twirls and spins through a buzzing tabla and tanpura trance, building in intensity until the circling rhythmic cycles spin out into a breathtaking rhapsody.”
More Press
“The heart of the album consists of two compositions by Michael Harrison for piano in just intonation, tanpura and tabla. Jaunpuri is a mesmerizing piece, a nocturnal raga of Hindustani classical music, animated by an irresistible wave movement… A wonder! Hijaz Prelude… can be considered as forming a diptych with the previous, yet it is more internalized and structured on more audible loops. The atmosphere is close to a trance brotherhood. Song of forgetfulness of the self in the drunkenness of sounds… A second wonder! ”
-
Galapagos in C
“Terry Riley's 'In C'… was the focus of a recent project at the Rhode Island School of Design… Mr. Harrison used raga, music theory and sound technology… the students presented this work, along with multi-media projections and mime, before an audience of some 70 patrons in the RISD Museum's Grand Gallery… The result was simply exhilarating.”
-
Radians Phase II
“Harrison's Radians Phase II (2015), a world premiere, features flute, clarinet, violin, cello, plus fixed electronics. Built of long, slow notes over ambient sounds, it created a mesmerizing meditative soundspace and a palpable sense of expectation.”
-
Jaunpuri: Rendition of a Raga
“Jaunpuri is based on a traditional Indian raga, but shaped with Western compositional notation, structures, and harmony. An embellished piano melody twirls and spins through a buzzing tabla and tanpura trance, building in intensity until the circling rhythmic cycles spin out into a breathtaking rhapsody.”
More Press
“The heart of the album consists of two compositions by Michael Harrison for piano in just intonation, tanpura and tabla. Jaunpuri is a mesmerizing piece, a nocturnal raga of Hindustani classical music, animated by an irresistible wave movement… A wonder! Hijaz Prelude… can be considered as forming a diptych with the previous, yet it is more internalized and structured on more audible loops. The atmosphere is close to a trance brotherhood. Song of forgetfulness of the self in the drunkenness of sounds… A second wonder! ”