Henry Cowell’s Musical Autobiography

In this fascinating program, first broadcast in 1961, Henry Cowell talks about his life and plays examples of his music culled from his entire career as a composer. He recalls a number of significant incidents from his childhood including, giving up violin at age 8, hearing Irish tunes hummed by his father, and early American Ozark mountain tunes sung by his mother. Growing up in San Francisco, he was exposed to international influences as he played and hummed along with his Japanese, Chinese & Tahitian playmates, all of which had an impact on his later compositions.