Search - Alan Hovhaness, Gerard Schwarz, Seattle Symphony Orchestra :: Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain/And God Created Great Whales

Great example of the neo-classical

John R. Coffman | San Diego, CA USA | 02/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The rendition of the "Mysterious Mountain" symphony is excellent. But a work, new to me, "The Prayer of St. Gregory" is my favorite on this CD. This CD is Hovhaness at his best."

A Unique Composer

Brett A. Kniess | Madison, WI | 12/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alan Hovhaness was the first composer where I heard his music and I thought, here are sounds put together I had never heard before. Often a mixture of Asian or Mid-eastern sounds, fused with forms from the Baroque Era (a feature on this disk), his music is truly unique.



Alan Hovhaness' "Mysterious Mountain" Symphony No. 2 premiered in the 1950's and still captivates audiences today. He uses techniques from the past, but also uses modern chord progressions, not to mention exotic modes of far-away cultures. To today's ears, the music almost sounds cinematic, or could be confused as. The theme is an imaginary mountain that is conjured in each of our minds, whether real or fantastical. The grandeur opens the work in the first movement with heavily divided strings in a chorale setting, but a unique one that moves to tonally interesting chords. While the chorale continues, an "out-of-tune" walking bass invades the interesting string harmonies, almost playing in a key of its own. Eventually the harp and celeste have their say, with flourishes of unknown modes not related to the string chorale. It is a very interesting sound that captivates me when I listen. The brisk second movement is a double fugue, with a long, almost chant-like, pentatonic, melody, which when harmonized, is reminiscent of Bach and the Baroque Era, with minor clashes of dissonance. After a skippy little string motive is started, a fugue is begun. Eventually, the two themes overlap to create the double fugue. The last movement is also chorale-like, but highly rhythmical, but eventually the techniques from the first movement invade, and a brilliant chorale ends the work. A charming 17-minute symphony, conjures so many personal images, yet the sound is entirely new. A historical and interesting work.



Three neo-Baroque works fill up much of this disk, usually based on forms that Bach used, most often the fugue. The Prelude and Quadruple Fugue was composed at the request of the American composer Roy Harris as a dare. Hovhaness writes an almost mid-Eastern flavored Prelude, and a jaunty lilting fugal section. Alleluia and Fugue, like other pieces on this disk, employs the older form with modern sounds. There is a definite sadness to this melody, certainly an impassioned forlornness. He mixes fugue with chorale statements, of which, the chords almost have a medieval quality. Celestial Fantasy is also a fugue, beginning with a rather troubled theme first stated by the cellos. A throwback to the Baroque again, Hovhaness creatively makes these pieces thoroughly 20th century works.



The Prayer of Saint Gregory for string orchestra and solo trumpet is standard trumpet literature today. Haunting and prayerful, Hovhaness exceeds in the spiritual sounds. And God Created Great Whales uses some aleatoric and electronic devices to show the beauty and chaos of nature. An almost Asian pentatonic melody opens the work, but trembling strings along with recorded whales, thrusts the listeners into the deeps of the Earth. An exultant exclamation of the opening motive with bells follows, and great sliding brass and strings giving an uneasy feeling, which lead to more taped whales. Another masterpiece of orchestral literature, this is a totally different Hovhaness than the rest of the disk, but his inventiveness makes it a success.



The Seattle Symphony on this Delos offering, play with luxurious warmth, allowing the listener to be bathed in sound. Gerard Schwarz has led world-wide releases of little-known American composers, and this recording still remains the one to have of Hovhaness' most famous works. A mixture of old world traditions, folk elements, and unique modern ideas, this is a great disk to try out something new. Along with Delos' release of Hovhaness' Symphony No. 22 "City of Light" and Symphony No. 50 "Mount Saint Helen's", there is plenty to experience of this American composer."

Images

Mars Velvet | Green Tree, Blue Earth...Deep Space | 10/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hovhaness' compositions create a whirilwind of pictures in the mind of his listeners. As the sounds enchant you the mood strikes out images of Pacific Northwest, Humpback Whales, a crystal night of stars, and one mountain shrouded in enigma.It is almost like hearing a Monet painting. Many sounds that create a melodious blur adding up to a beautiufl musical landscape. What Monet did for French gardens, Hovhaness does for the North Pacific sea life! Hovhaness paints scenic symphonies dotted with flections of color and mood.I highly recomend this album to anyone in search of beautiful symphonic sound pictures!"