—Alan Hovhaness (1911–2000)
Born in Somerville, Mass., Alan Hovhaness graduated from Arlington
High School and The New England Conservatory, and taught at The
Boston Conservatory. His compositional output spans hundreds of compositions
for all ensembles and instruments (Source: JRO).
The ancient
city of Yerevan, at the foot of majestic, towering Mount Ararat, is the
home of Armenians who found refuge there from many massacres. The
music, composed in the ancient fifth mode (“kimtza”) of the Armenian
Church, is in Sharagan or Armenian Hymn style. A solemn contrapuntal
motet expresses sorrow, strength and spiritual resurrection. A middle
section, in free rhythmless chaos of bells and roaring trombones, celebrates
a dauntless defiance of tragedy. The solemn contrapuntal hymn
returns, heroic and triumphal. (Source: Alan Hovhaness)
