Music of Alan Hovhaness: Saint Vartan Symphony; Artik

Alan Hovhaness (Composer), Alan Hovhaness (Conductor), David Amos (Conductor), Meir Rimon (Performer), Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), National Philharmonic Orchestra of London (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Performer: Meir Rimon
• Orchestra: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Alan Hovhaness, David Amos
• Composer: Alan Hovhaness
• Audio CD (August 19, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Crystal Records
• ASIN: B000003J71
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,026 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #18 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( H ) > Hovhaness, Alan
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't judge a cd by its cover, May 18, 2003

By	Thaddeus Wert (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This disc sports what has to be some of the ugliest cover art ever allowed out in public: a distinctly unflattering black and white photo of Hovhaness cut-and-pasted onto a sickly, solid green background. While this does not bode well for the contents within, the brave consumer will be rewarded, for Saint Vartan's Symphony is one of the most beautiful pieces of classical music ever recorded. While not a symphony in the "classic" sonata form, it is still a complex and massive work. There are twenty-four (!) short movements that vary from dance-like pieces to solemn ceremonial ones. Overall, it is an organic work that builds in intensity to an emotional climax. What is Hovhaness' genius is his ability to meld Eastern modes of music with Western canons into a seamless and unique work whose sum is far greater than its parts. Nowadays, with the well-deserved popularity of Part, Gorecki, Taverner, Rautavaara, Glass, and Reich, this does not seem like such a big deal. What is incredible is that Hovhaness composed this symphony in 1949-50! Almost all of the aforementioned contemporary composers owe Alan Hovhaness a huge stylistic debt. If you are attracted to any of their works, do yourself a favor and check out Hovhaness' music. This disc is an excellent place to start.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Classical Music! But the cover is a real howler!!!, January 4, 2008

By	Patrick W. Crabtree "The Old Grottomaster" (Lucasville, OH USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I listen to this spectacular symphony EVERY night... I mean EVERY night, mostly as I read. Right behind this CD, I also listen to another set of Hovhaness's works which offer a similarly wonderful ambiance:

Hovhaness: Symphonies Nos. 4, 20 & 53; The Prayer of St. Gregory

Alan Hovhaness, (1911-2000), an American composer of Armenian heritage, spent a lot of time in the Middle East and in the Orient; a bit of that flavour comes through on this fine recording, mostly in regard to the subtle bells which are manifest in the work. No, this isn't 'Asian Music' by any means -- in fact, if you were unaware of Hovhaness's Eastern studies then you would probably have difficulty in putting your finger on exactly what makes his work so beautifully unique to all other Classical Music.

The Saint Vartan Symphony No. 9 runs a total of 43:51 and is in two parts, conveying a total of 24 short "movements"; however, you won't find it piecemeal -- it's all fluid and flowing. The second composition is "Artik," (Concerto for horn and string orchestra). This music is very similar in atmosphere to Saint Vartan.

It's ludicrous to attempt to verbally define the music found herein so I'll just say this: This music would have made a fine soundtrack (in part) for "The Lord of Rings" or even for the "Cadfael" series, albeit, it has little to do with either of those locations or periods.

That having been said, I'll just summarize by noting that the COVER of this album/CD makes the great Alan Hovhaness look like some fashion of circus freak. The folks at Crystal Records should have been horse-whipped for releasing this ridiculous artwork and dubious cover photo. So I want to make sure that you all know WHODUNNIT: "Folder design, Ed Mitchell," whomever HE is.

Get this CD and treat yourself to a superb Classical Music experience.

5.0 out of 5 stars Cover fix, February 20, 2009

By	Frank (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

For those who are upset about the terrible CD cover "art" there's a very quick solution (which might make you kick yourself for not having thought of): flip the booklet over and put it back in the jewel box. Then a nice photograph of Hovhaness will face out with the green whatever-it-is facing in.