Henry Cowell

This is a fascinating audio autobiography of Henry Cowell where the early music pioneer talks about his work.

I love Henry because he was a child musical genius who gave up playing violin aged 8, the same age when I started learning guitar. His music sounds avant garde and a little dated, but then it is very old. He was also a colourful figure who was bisexual and has of course become a figure of some note in latter day San Fransisco, I think they even named streets after him.

I adore gays and bis, I love atonal music, and I love documentaries, so it's a three way tie for first place. Atonal music is great, it really annoys music snobs and music philistines alike, and frankly any art which annoys and bugs people is something I have a lot of fondness for immediately.

Henry Cowell is my new favourite musician.

Wikipedia entry
Documentary at Archive.org