Impact and Testimonials
Terry Riley, composer
I was both one of Michaels teachers and a friend. He came down from Oregon to hear Pandit Pran Nath sing a North Indian raga concert at Mills college…I am not sure of the year but probably late 70’s. After that often visited me for lessons and general music guidance before moving to New York for study with La Monte Young and Pandit Pran Nath.
Michael had a very refined sensibility and was attracted to the subtle nuances of raga and just intonation and began to assist La Monte in his performance of the Well-Tuned Piano. The WTP experience made a profound impression and its influence is deeply felt in subsequent works, especially his magnum opus REVELATION.
Following the death of Pandit Pran Nath in 1996, I made trips to Brooklyn to stay with Michael and teach raga. Our friendship deepened and over the years and we continued to support each other.
Michael’s sudden passing was a shock to the music community and his many friends and admirers. His was a brilliant career that ended too soon.
-Terry Riley, composer
Vadim Neselovsky, pianist and composer
Michael Harrison has been one of the most important people in my life. I first met him at the McDowell Colony in 2013, where we were both composers-in-residence. We connected immediately. I was intrigued and mesmerized by Michael’s unique sonic world. I had never been exposed to the world of Just Intonation before. Michael generously shared with me his process of working on his magnum opus, “Revelation: Music in Pure Intonation.” He was so incredibly humble while showing me all these fantastic, groundbreaking pieces of music.
Despite being such an incredible and accomplished artist, his curiosity and support for others’ work was stunning. I had never met a composer who was as supportive of other people’s music as Michael was.
Our encounter at the McDowell Colony marked the beginning of a long and wonderful friendship and mentorship. Michael supported my desire to branch out into classical music and incorporate my jazz background into concert music. He was generous enough to introduce me to his manager at the time. That led to my first
opportunity to work with a symphony orchestra, which led to more than a decade of collaborations with various symphony orchestras around the world. Each time I collaborate with an orchestra, I am reminded that it all started with Michael’s generous and selfless support.
My fascination with Michael’s groundbreaking music led me to explore minimalism and the works of other composers, such as Terry Riley, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich, all of whom Michael knew well or collaborated with. I see the increasing importance of minimalism in my latest musical projects. I think of Michael often, remembering the tremendous impact he has had on my life and music.
The life of an artist is full of applications, grant opportunities, calls for scores, and so on. Often, one needs a recommendation letter from a respected colleague and mentor. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked Michael to write me a letter. He always responded immediately and gave me his full support. So many opportunities in my life have become possible because of his presence.
As a professor at Berklee College of Music, I have shared Michael’s music with countless students. I’m proud and honored to continue raising awareness of Michael’s incredible work among the next generation of musicians. I also constantly share Michael’s story as an example of how a person and an artist should be.
It is still very difficult for me to accept that Michael is no longer with us. He had such an important and vast impact on my life, both as an artist and as a human being. I know I will carry the memory of his beautiful soul in my heart forever.
-Vadim Neselovsky, pianist and composer