No, it isn't. 20 years ago no one knew his name and now they do. He shows up on the classical radio playlist regularly as the atonal stuff is fading away.
So beautiful. So heart rending, and so sad. It literally brings the tears to my eyes when I remember what the story is all about. A constant inspiration for my own writing, and my own "letters in the sand."
In the film "Patti Smith Dream of Life" this music comes up (at 14:08 here). I was immediately pulled into it, a notably different turn from what I had been watching. Suddenly strange emotions were coming up, especially hearing the trumpet. What exactly was that feeling? Something from a dim memory or tuning into something strangely familiar but difficult to pinpoint? I met the music full on. Where would it take me? I was open to anything.
0:00 is a good place to start. --- I've never been a fan of classical singing. So listening to it here is a bit of a chore for me. But man it's worth it! Listening to it is like paying my ticket to get thru the gates and get inside Heaven. There the orchestral music is just so sublime and beautiful!
Some of my favorite pieces by the Armenian-born American composer Alan Hovhanness: -Loon Lake -Celestial Gate -Mysterious Mountain -Hymn to Glacier Peak
If his works weren't all "rental only" it would no doubt revitalize his music. It's so great to listen to and perform. My students absolutely love all of his music!
“I pass by these walls, the walls of Layla And I kiss this wall and that wall It’s not Love of the houses that has taken my heart But of the One who dwells in those houses” - from Layla and Majnun by Nizami Ganjavi
sylva portonian You are very right. Much of his work was slandered for taking Armenian and Indian influences. I can not believe it was the attitude of "modernist" musicians like Berstein or Copland.
Armenian? What could ANYONE have against an Armenian? I can understand if you said Congoid, Muslim...even that Taliban-Jewish songsmith....but Armenian?
Hovhaness set himself against atonality, serialism and the increasing complexity of modern classical music. (I love that stuff! But I also love this. There's room for all sorts of great music in the world.) He was out of tune with the age of Boulez, Stockhausen and Milton Babbitt. That may explain his comparative neglect, and why he's being rediscovered now. (But his music never really went away.)
8. Majnun's love song "I am writing Only for myself, and only Layla, Writing in that word a volume Over which forever poring, From her very name I sip in fancy Till I drink her lip." Chorus: "Only Layla"
So evocative and beautiful Why no ballet company has ever arranged a ballet of leila majnun There are so many versions of Romeo.and juliet by tchaikovsky Prokovief.. West side story by Betnstein
Hovhaness's opera, "Etchmiadzin," has never been published, even though it is the source of his most performed work, the trumpet solo "The Prayer of St. Gregory." The Library of Congress has a copy of the manuscript of "Etchmiadzin." Hovhaness re-used some of the musical material from this opera in his "Symphony Etchmiadzin" (Symphony No. 21), which is published by Edition Peters.
It is a shame that his music is overlooked today. His music is easily understood and gentle on the ear. I hope his compositions have a renaissance.
No, it isn't. 20 years ago no one knew his name and now they do. He shows up on the classical radio playlist regularly as the atonal stuff is fading away.
genius...I had to pull over the side of the road hearing this.... just discovered this wonderful composer..... genius
I had no idea ...
I'm so taken in by this man's stunning channeling of his soul
So beautiful. So heart rending, and so sad. It literally brings the tears to my eyes when I remember what the story is all about. A constant inspiration for my own writing, and my own "letters in the sand."
Wonderful work , I love the setting for this spiritual journey of lover and the search for the Beloved. The Calligraphic images add too the essence.
In the film "Patti Smith Dream of Life" this music comes up (at 14:08 here). I was immediately pulled into it, a notably different turn from what I had been watching. Suddenly strange emotions were coming up, especially hearing the trumpet. What exactly was that feeling? Something from a dim memory or tuning into something strangely familiar but difficult to pinpoint? I met the music full on. Where would it take me? I was open to anything.
0:00 is a good place to start. --- I've never been a fan of classical singing. So listening to it here is a bit of a chore for me. But man it's worth it! Listening to it is like paying my ticket to get thru the gates and get inside Heaven. There the orchestral music is just so sublime and beautiful!
I’ve recently started listening to him thanks to this channel. Marvelous
Muito lindo. Incrível. Espetacular.
Some of my favorite pieces by the Armenian-born American composer Alan Hovhanness:
-Loon Lake
-Celestial Gate
-Mysterious Mountain
-Hymn to Glacier Peak
Actually, he was born in Sommerville, MA!
If his works weren't all "rental only" it would no doubt revitalize his music. It's so great to listen to and perform. My students absolutely love all of his music!
“I pass by these walls, the walls of Layla
And I kiss this wall and that wall
It’s not Love of the houses that has taken my heart
But of the One who dwells in those houses”
- from Layla and Majnun by Nizami Ganjavi
selamhabibi
mlm
A dramatic and gorgeous work....why is it not performed more? I will do my part.
lovely and very underrated master
Yes, why??? because he is Armenian ...
sylva portonian You are very right. Much of his work was slandered for taking Armenian and Indian influences. I can not believe it was the attitude of "modernist" musicians like Berstein or Copland.
Armenian? What could ANYONE have against an Armenian? I can understand if you said Congoid, Muslim...even that Taliban-Jewish songsmith....but Armenian?
Hovhaness set himself against atonality, serialism and the increasing complexity of modern classical music. (I love that stuff! But I also love this. There's room for all sorts of great music in the world.) He was out of tune with the age of Boulez, Stockhausen and Milton Babbitt. That may explain his comparative neglect, and why he's being rediscovered now. (But his music never really went away.)
Great Composer!
3. The distracted lover
"O distracted lover, writing
What the sword-wind of the desert
Undeciphers so that no one
After you shall understand."
great
8. Majnun's love song
"I am writing
Only for myself, and only Layla,
Writing in that word a volume
Over which forever poring,
From her very name I sip in fancy
Till I drink her lip."
Chorus:
"Only Layla"
Very nice work. I agree as well. where are the performances hiding ?
So evocative and beautiful
Why no ballet company has ever arranged a ballet of leila majnun
There are so many versions of Romeo.and juliet by tchaikovsky
Prokovief..
West side story by Betnstein
Sublime
6. The beloved
9. The mysterious beloved
"I am writing
Only for myself, and only Layla.”
4. The sword-wind
5. Majnun answered
Majnun answer'd
1. Majnun
7. The celestial beloved
Hi everybody, i'm searching his op.62, the opera "Echmiadzin". Can someone help me to find the soundtrack, video, score, data, etc.? Thanks
Hovhaness's opera, "Etchmiadzin," has never been published, even though it is the source of his most performed work, the trumpet solo "The Prayer of St. Gregory." The Library of Congress has a copy of the manuscript of "Etchmiadzin." Hovhaness re-used some of the musical material from this opera in his "Symphony Etchmiadzin" (Symphony No. 21), which is published by Edition Peters.
Any lyric?
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