Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain & Lousadzak / Lou Harrison: Elegiac Symphony (Musicmasters)

Alan Hovhaness (Composer), Lou Harrison (Composer), Dennis Russell Davies (Conductor), American Composers Orchestra (Orchestra), Keith Jarrett (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Keith Jarrett
• Orchestra: American Composers Orchestra
• Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies
• Composer: Alan Hovhaness, Lou Harrison
• Audio CD (April 16, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Musicmasters
• ASIN: B000000FMX
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #374,147 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sym No.2, Op.132 ('Mysterious Mountain'): Andante con moto

2. Sym No.2, Op.132 ('Mysterious Mountain'): Double Fugue (Moderato maestoso, allegro vivo)

3. Sym No.2, Op.132 ('Mysterious Mountain'); Andante espressivo

4. Lousadzak, Op.48 - Keith Jarrett/American Composers Orch/Dennis Russell Davies

5. Sym No.2 ('Elegiac'): Tears of the Angel Israfel

6. Sym No.2 ('Elegiac'): Allegro, poco presto

7. Sym No.2 ('Elegiac'): Tears of the Angel Israfel

8. Sym No.2 ('Elegiac'): Praises for Michael the Archangel

9. Sym No.2 ('Elegiac'): The Sweetness of Epicurus

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Performance of Some Underheard Music, January 16, 2002

By 

Timothy Dougal (Madison, Wi United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain & Lousadzak / Lou Harrison: Elegiac Symphony (Musicmasters) (Audio CD)

Although the music of Hovhaness is becoming more available, it is still relatively rare, and the music of Lou Harrison is very rare. On this disc, "The Mysterious Mountain" is the best known work, having been recorded now two other times that I know of. The other two works I had never heard. While buying music "in the dark", so to speak, can often lead to buyer's remorse, this CD has proved to be very satisfying over a period of years, despite a certain lack of warmth and spaciousness in the recording itself.

The "Mysterious Mountain" sounds very much like its title suggests, with modal oriental harmonies and melodic lines that may occasionally remind you of Biblical epics. At its heart though, is a monumental double fugue which routinely leaves me breathless and keeps thoughts of Hollywood shlock far away. "Lousadzak", with Keith Jarrett plying the piano keys at his virtuousic, improvisatory best, both seems to flow directly out of the symphony that precedes it, as well as from the unconscious. Harrison's symphony displays Asian influences as well, but a little more broadly than Hovhaness's work, running from the middle east all the way to Bali, at the same time, sounding thoroughly American. The three pieces work together very well, and all the music is very well played.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hovaness-ok:The Great Lou Harrison, March 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain & Lousadzak / Lou Harrison: Elegiac Symphony (Musicmasters) (Audio CD)

This is an interesting album by two perhaps lesser known American 20th Century composers, as opposed to Copland, Bernstein, or even Cage. The performance is quite good on all accounts. "Mysterious Mountain" sounds just like it probably should, new age. Which is not to say it is bad, but it does lack depth, avoiding great leaps in emotional output. More interesting is "Lousadzak" which almost takes on a perpetual motion character-it is very busy! Finest on this album is the "Elegiac" symphony of Lou Harrison, who is sure to still be standing when the rubble of 20th Century experimentalism is swept away. His symphony shows grace, breadth, and beauty, all of which is served justly by Davies and the orchestra.