Book
Alan Hovhaness: Unveiling One of the Great Composers of the 20th Century
In the year 2000, after Alan’s death, Hinako Fujihara-Hovhaness started writing poems, which was the only way she could cope with her great loss. They were written with her limited English, yet they were spontaneous and poignant, straight from her heart. After she had written hundreds of poems, it was not enough. Hinako started writing stories from my memories about Alan, events she had experienced with him.
To Hinako, “Alan was a master of counterpoint and an intellectual, yet he had many different sides to his personality, from being a polite, distinguished gentleman to a wild savage, idealistic, and old-fashioned man to sexy womanizer. He understood human nature and emotion, and I think that is why his music touches people’s hearts and is loved by them, even though his music is built on an intellectual foundation.”
Alan Hovhaness: Unveiling One of the Great Composers of the 20th Century
Hardback (Special Edition)
Alan Hovhaness: Unveiling One of the Great Composers of the 20th Century
Hardback
About The Author: Hinako Fujihara Hovhaness's
Hinako Fujihara Hovhaness was the wife, musical partner, and lifelong champion of composer Alan Hovhaness. A trained soprano and former performer with the Seattle Opera auxiliary chorus, Hinako met Alan in 1974 at a piano recital. They married in 1977, and from that point forward, she became his closest collaborator—both artistically and professionally.
She founded and ran Hovhaness-Fujihara Music Company, managed Alan’s financial affairs, produced numerous recordings of his works, and performed in several of his symphonies. Her voice, a coloratura soprano, inspired multiple compositions and live performances.
Hinako devoted her later years to preserving Alan’s musical legacy, serving as executive producer on numerous CD releases and documenting their life together. This book represents the culmination of that effort—a deeply personal account of the man behind the music, told by the person who knew him best.
