Composer Note I wrote STEAM for three instruments built by Harry Partch, two harmonic canons and a bloboy, as well as amplified flute, cello, and electric organ. The Newband performers are specially trained on Partch’s original instruments which have been in their possession since 1990. Newband lent me one of the harmonic canons for several weeks. It’s a large microtonal zither. The tuning is amazingly beautiful with 43 notes to the octave. I spent hours strumming, plucking, glissing — when you slide down the strings it has the sound of a wild animal cry. I kept Partch’s tuning for his instruments while using the familiar tempered tuning for the others. I loved the sound of these two worlds rubbing against each other, fusing into a new kind of harmony.
