Partch ensemble returns to SICA

The Harry Partch Ensemble

The Harry Partch Ensemble will return to the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts in Long Branch series Friday, April 13 at 8 p.m. as part of the Black Box of Asbury Park's ongoing Music of Invention

Partch was a 20th-century iconoclast, inventor and composer who constructed a 43-note scale in just intonation.

He handmade instruments to make music that could not be played on conventional instruments.

Partch is currently regarded as one of the greatest of the American musical innovators. His approach, now commonly called "microtonal" music, set a precedent for the current generation of composers.

The Partch Instrumentarium is now housed at Montclair State University under the direction of ensemble leader Dean Drummond. The ensemble will bring many of the handmade instruments to SICA in a performance of an all-Partch program of music.

The concert will be at the SICA, 20 Third Avenue, Long Branch. Admission is $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

For information, call (732) 263-1121 or visit www.sica.org or www.musicofinven-tion.com.