On Bill’s Return From the Mountains was co-commissioned by Thingamajigs and Sacred and Profane as part of the Harrison 100 / Thingamajigs 20 project organized by Thingamajigs.

My first encounter with Lou Harrison was in July 1996 at Paddington Station in London, England. I was hoping to take a class of his at Dartington International Summer School, but I applied too late to get into his class. Lou was standing in the middle of the large station alone with a bunch of luggage at his feet. I asked him if he was Lou Harrison, and he responded “I sometimes think I am”. I was surprised how this man resembles Santa Claus –big, jolly and with a white flowing beard. He said he was looking for his partner Bill and asked if I could watch his luggage for him while he searched the station. All of a sudden I then found myself alone, guarding Lou Harrison’s luggage at my feet. 

Lou did allow me to join his Tunings of the World and Gamelan class at Dartington. Coming from a traditional musical education, it was just what I needed. Soon Lou, Bill and I became friends and they recommended that I move to the Bay Area and study at Mills College, where I would make occasional trips down to Aptos (the home of Lou and Bill) to spend our time talking about music and tunings and building instruments in the work room. 

When Rebecca and I talked about writing a new piece to celebrate Lou Harrison’s centennial, we decided that it would be most fitting to use one of Lou’s own poems. We both loved the sweet poem he wrote for his partner in life, Bill Colvig (who, incidentally is also celebrating his centennial). On Bill’s Return uses two of the unique scales from Lou’s Mass for St. Cecelia, but unlike the monophonic characters of his mass, I wanted to explore polyphony and counterpoint within these scales. 

Lou and Bill helped shape who I am and the music I write, and that chance encounter at Paddington Station is a moment that will always live with me.

On Bills Return


Edward Schocker is a composer and performer who creates music with made/found materials and alternate tuning systems.