Hovhaness Treasures

Alan Hovhaness (Composer), Gerard Schwarz (Conductor), Alan Hovhaness (Conductor), Northwest Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Hinako Fujihara (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Hinako Fujihara
• Orchestra: Northwest Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Gerard Schwarz, Alan Hovhaness
• Composer: Alan Hovhaness
• Audio CD (October 24, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Crystal Records
• ASIN: B000003J7C
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,569 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sym No.31, Op.294: Andante Molto Cantando

2. Sym No.31, Op.294: Presto

3. Sym No.31, Op.294: Lento

4. Sym No.31, Op.294: Fuga Presto Ma Non Troppo

5. Sym No.31, Op.294: Allegro Vivace

6. Sym No.31, Op.294: Andante Con Molto Espressione

7. Sym No.31, Op.294: Fuga, Presto

8. Starry Night, Op.384 - Scott Goff/John Carrington/Ronald Johnson

9. Celestial Canticle, Op.305, No.2: Prld - Hinako Fujihara/Scott Goff

10. Celestial Canticle, Op.305, No.2: The Lord Reigneth - Hinako Fujihara/Scott Goff

11. Celestial Canticle, Op.305, No.2: Under The Shadow - Hinako Fujihara/Scott Goff

12. Celestial Canticle, Op.305, No.2: Alleluia - Hinako Fujihara/Scott Goff

13. O, Joy At The Dawn Of Spring - Hinako Fujihara/Scott Goff

14. Sym No.49, Christmas Sym, Op.356: Celestial Prophecy

15. Sym No.49, Christmas Sym, Op.356: The Angel

16. Sym No.49, Christmas Sym, Op.356: Pastoral

17. Sym No.49, Christmas Sym, Op.356: The Star, Watchman Tell Us Of The Night

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Music, February 3, 2001

By 

Rene (Butte, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hovhaness Treasures (Audio CD)

This is some of the most beautiful Classical (and I do mean Classical) music I have ever heard. Even though Hovhaness was a modern composer his style is evocative of the Romantic period and his lush arrangements are jaw-dropping. Symphony 31 is phenomenal and Symphony 49 is absolutely awe-inspiring. When that first rush of strings begins in 'Celestial' it is nothing short of transcendental. The only drawback is the rather unimpressive opera stuff that litters the CD. Get it for the symphonies.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth owning, November 29, 2010

By 

George Guman - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hovhaness Treasures (Audio CD)

I would recommend this CD solely on the basis of Christmas Symphony 49, the most beautiful piece of music I have heard.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If music be the food of love, PLEASE stop singing!, July 8, 2009

By 

JJM Peters (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hovhaness Treasures (Audio CD)

This disc starts of really nice with one of those lesser known works by Hovhaness, his Symphony no. 31 for strings. It's a typical Hovhaness work, with meandering melodies, mystical pizzicati and a fugue or two. Starry Night, for the unusual combination of harp, xylophone and flute also works really well.
However, it is from the Celestial Canticle onward that this treasure trove seems to turn into a Pandora's Box! My first impression was that some ancient old woman from the Armenian mountains was flown in to sing this music in the appropriate ancient Armenian way. However, when the bad intonation kept grating on my nerves like fingernails drawn over a blackboard, I checked and found out that Miss Hinako Fujihara is in fact the widow of late Mr Hovhaness. This, then, must be an act of love on his part, making clear in no uncertain terms what madness love can bring about! Perhaps Miss Fujihara was a fine soprano in her time, unfortunately that time has long been past and I regret to say that bad intonation is just one of her offences on this disc. It's a shame, because the music, if expertly sung, would be quite nice! The orchestral accompaniment is gorgeous and also the recording is fine, but shame on everyone involved not to protect Miss Fujiharo against herself...
Taht being said, the disc rounds of very nicely with Hovhaness Christmas Symphony.
All in all, lovely music, but because of the astoundingly bad performance of the soprano, still only 2 stars...