Although little known in the U.S., Conlon Nancarrow is considered 'one of the greatest composers of the 20th century' in Europe. Born in Arkansas, he left to fight against the fascists in the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930's and during the Communist 'witch hunts' of the 1940's he emigrated to Mexico where he lived the rest of his life focusing on his highly sophisticated, but viscerally exciting musical creations for the player piano. In 1982 Nancarrow was awarded a MacArthur 'Genius' Grant. This film, in honor of the centennial of his birth in 1912, features performances of his exciting music, a premiere performance of a recently discovered piece, and interviews with his friends and followers.