Ancient Desert Drone (for orchestra) (1940)

Ancient Desert Drone was composed for orchestra in 1940 at the request of Percy Grainger, who encouraged the idea of using a single pitch “drone” throughout the work (similar to Grainger's own The Immovable Do) and to whom the piece is dedicated. While the work suggests an Eastern charm with its distinctive mode and primitive rhythms, Cowell himself stated there was no particular programmatic intent.