Partch Ensemble: Sonata Dementia

John Schneider, radio personality and music director of the Los Angeles-based Partch Ensemble introduces us to the wild and wooly world of American maverick composer Harry Partch (1901-1974). The ensemble's latest album includes some of Partch's greatest hits (including a heretofore unheard recording of Partch himself performing his hobo song cycle Barstow). Also heard: some lesser-known gems including the title track, Partch's Sonata Dementia (a fascinating musical romp through psychoanalysis).