• Name: Howard Hanson
• Birthday: 10/28/1896
• Birth Place: Wahoo, NE
• Died: 02/26/1981
• Place of Death: Rochester, NY
• Country: USA
• Period: Modern
• Genre: Classical

Title	Release
Howard Hanson Conducts Howard Hanson WA	2005
Hanson Conducts Hanson [Hybrid SACD] WA	2004
Howard Hanson Conducts American Masterworks WA	2004
Howard Hanson Conducts Hanson WA	1996
Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite; Missippi Suite; Victor Herbert: Cello Concerto No. 2	1995
George Chadwick: Symphonic Sketches; Edward MacDowell: Suite for Large Orchestra; Johann Peter: Sinfonia in G	1994
Fiesta in Hi-Fi WA	1992
Howard Hanson Conducts Barber, Piston, Griffes, McCauley, Kennan, Bergsma	1992
Howard Hanson Conducts McPhee, Sessions, Thomson	1992
Moore: Pageant of P.T. Barnum; Carpenter: Adventures in a Perambulater	1992
Howard Hanson Conducts Bloch	1991
Hanson Conducts Hanson WA	1990
Gould: Spirituals; Fall River Legend Suite; Barber: Medea Suite
(2) Howard Hanson: The Composer Talks WA	1957
(7) Lament for Beowulf for chorus & orchestra, Op. 25	1958
(25) Symphony No. 2 ("Romantic"), Op. 30 WA	1986
(2) Bold Island Suite, for orchestra	2004
Summer Seascape No. 2, for viola & strings WA	2005
(5) A Prayer of the Middle Ages, for chorus
(4) Chorale and Alleluia	1994
Chorale and Fanfare for orchestra WA	1980
(2) Concerto da Camera for piano and string quartet in C, Op 7
(3) Concerto for organ, harp & strings in C, Op 22/3
(9) Concerto for piano & orchestra in G, Op 36
(2) Dies Natalis I, for orchestra	1994
(3) Dies Natalis II, for wind ensemble WA
(8) Elegy in Memory of Serge Koussevitsky for orchestra, Op 44	1957
Enchantment, for piano WA	1999
Études (3) for piano, No. 1, Studio ritmico, Op. 18/1 WA	1999
Études (3) for piano, No. 2, Studio melodico, Op. 18/2 WA	1999
Études (3) for piano, No. 3, Poema Idillico, Op. 18/3 WA	1999
Extended Theme for chorus & orchestra
(3) Fanfare for the Signal Corps for brass ensemble WA	1980
(8) Fantasy Variations on a Theme of Youth for piano & orchestra, Op 40 WA
For the First Time, for piano WA	1999
(2) For the First Time, suite for orchestra WA	1963
(4) How Excellent Thy Name, for chorus & organ, Op. 41	1993
Howard Hanson's After Concert Remarks	1972
Impromptu, for piano (Yuletide Pieces), Op. 19/1
Interlochen Theme, for orchestra (from Romantic Symphony)
Joy! Shipmate, Joy	1977
(3) Laude, Chorale, Variations, and Metamorphoses, for band
Lumen in Christo	1994
Lux Aeterna, Op 24	1994
March Carillon	1994
(10) Merry Mount, opera in 3 acts, Op. 31	1934
(14) Merry Mount, suite from the opera, Op. 31	1972
Miniatures (3) for piano, No 3, Longing, Op. 12/3 WA	1999
Miniatures (3) for piano, No. 1, Reminiscence, Op. 12/1 WA	1999
Miniatures (3) for piano, No. 2, Lullaby, Op. 12/2 WA	1999
(6) Mosaics for orchestra WA
(4) Nymphs and Satyr, ballet	1977
(3) Pan and the Priest, symphonic poem for orchestra, Op 26	1977
(9) Pastorale for oboe & piano (or harp & strings), Op. 38
Poèmes érotiques, for piano, No. 1, "Peace", Op. 9/1 WA	1999
Poèmes érotiques, for piano, No. 2, Joy, Op. 9/2 WA	1999
Poèmes érotiques, for piano, No. 3, Desire, Op. 9/3 WA	1999
(2) Psalm 121 "I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes" for baritone, chorus & orchestra
(2) Psalm 150 "Praise Ye the Lord" for male chorus
(3) Psalm 8 "How excellent is thy name"
(4) Rhythmic Variations on Two Ancient Hymns for orchestra	1977
(15) Serenade for flute, harp & strings, Op. 35	1993
Slumber Song, for piano WA	1999

Howard Hanson was among the first twentieth century American composers to achieve widespread prominence. In contrast to the angular Stravinskian and Americana-influenced sounds that dominated American concert music prior to World War II, Hanson wrote in an unabashedly Romantic idiom influenced by his Nordic roots. Of particular importance to the composer was the music of Sibelius; however, he also acknowledged the influence of composers such as Palestrina and Bach.

After boyhood studies on the piano, Hanson studied music at the Institute of Musical Art in New York City and Northwestern University, where he earned a degree in 1916. In 1921, he became the first American to win the Prix de Rome, which provided him the opportunity to study with Ottorino Respighi, whose colorful orchestral language was clearly an influence on Hanson's own. Upon his return to the United States, Hanson was appointed head of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester at the age of 28. Under the composer's guidance over the course of more than four decades, Eastman became one of the world's preeminent educational institutions. During his tenure there Hanson continued to compose prolifically; he also embarked on a career as a conductor, in which capacity he proved himself one of the great champions of American music. At Eastman, it has been calculated, he presented some 1,500 works by 700 composers. Hanson also commercially recorded a number of modern works in a series for the Mercury label in the 1950s, drawing much attention to otherwise neglected repertoire.

Hanson's most characteristic works are undoubtedly his seven symphonies. The first of these, the "Nordic" Symphony (1922), dates from the composer's studies in Rome. The Second Symphony ("Romantic"), remains Hanson's best-known work, a characteristic realization of the lush, lyric aesthetic with which he is closely associated. Further notable among Hanson's symphonies are the Symphony No. 4 (1943), awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and the Symphony No. 7 (1977), one of a series of works inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman. Other important works in Hanson's catalogue include The Lament for Beowulf (1925) for chorus and orchestra; the opera Merry Mount (1933), well received at its premiere and in subsequent productions, but now rarely performed; and a variety of other chamber, vocal, and orchestral works.



~ Michael Rodman, All Music Guide