Colorful Fortune
Harold Budd
Throughout Harold Budd’s career as a composer, poetry – or what he referred to as “something like poetry, but not the same thing” – has been an occasional companion to his music.
The first half of Colorful Fortune presents the debut of an extended cycle in 18-parts titled “Poem Sketches 2007–2008.” The second half presents 11 poems that first appeared on three of his albums from the 1990s: By Dawn's Early Light, She is a Phantom and Glyph. The book also includes 14 original drawings by Harold, inspired by the music of Monteverdi and Tristano. These “arabesque” drawings are variations on a theme that could be described as a visual expression of his music: a line that travels across a page, sometimes knotty and dense, sometimes very simply.
Set in Perpetua and printed letterpress at Black Stone Press. Edition of 50 copies, issued in two states (details below). A co-publication with MoonLiner Books; there also was a paperback version, printed from the same plates, issued exclusively by MoonLiner Books. 8vo, 34 pp. 2009
The limited edition of 50 copies, signed and numbered by Harold, was printed on Rives Lightweight. Copies 1–10 were bound by Claudia Cohen in quarter leather with paste paper sides. Bound into these copies are intaglio prints of four preliminary arabeques that Harold drew for the project, but which were not used in the final layout; and one of the 14 original drawings reproduced in the book, signed and dated by Harold. Issued in a clamshell box.
Copies 11–50 (+ 10 H.C.) were bound in a limp paper vellum case (most were bound by MoonLiner publisher Keith Lowe; some were bound at HM). The case was made from a semi-transparent abaca-based paper vellum sheet made by Reg Lissel; it was lined with a sheet, visible through the cover, printed with the title and one of the drawings.
A trade paperback edition, printed from the same setting on Mohawk Superfine acid-free paper. These copies were Smythe sewn and put into a stiff paper wrap printed in two colors. The paperback edition was issued exclusively by MoonLiner Books.