Music
Discover the Music of Alan Hovhaness
Alan Hovhaness (1911–2000) was one of the most prolific and distinctive composers of the 20th century, with a catalog of over 500 works that transcended borders, belief systems, and even time. Drawing deeply from Armenian liturgical traditions, Japanese gagaku, Indian ragas, Renaissance polyphony, and nature itself, his music reflects a lifelong quest to express spiritual truth through sound.
If this is your first encounter with Hovhaness, welcome. His music invites you to slow down, to listen, and to look inward. Many listeners describe the experience of hearing Hovhaness as entering a world of quiet majesty, mystery, and deep emotional resonance. It’s music not for snobs, but for anyone with an open heart.
A Global Voice with Deep Roots
Born Alan Vaness Chakmakjian in Somerville, Massachusetts, he began composing at age four. Despite the strict expectations of his parents, who worried about his future in music, Hovhaness was determined. After early studies with Leo Rich Lewis and Frederick Converse, and a formative friendship with the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, Hovhaness went on to destroy hundreds of his early works, in order to start fresh with a clearer, purer artistic vision.
What emerged was a voice unlike any other: tonal but not traditional, mystical but grounded, simple yet rigorously crafted. He rejected the dissonant, atonal trends of his contemporaries, writing instead in what he called “music with a center.” To him, all great music had to be rooted in tonality.
Breakthrough Works and Enduring Legacy
One of Hovhaness’s most iconic pieces is Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain” (1955), premiered by Leopold Stokowski and later recorded by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony. It remains one of the most beloved American symphonies, a work of serene grandeur with echoes of Renaissance counterpoint and celestial longing.
His Prayer of St. Gregory for trumpet and strings has become a favorite among brass players and a mainstay in sacred settings for its breathtaking simplicity. Other major works include And God Created Great Whales, which incorporates recordings of whale songs, Mount St. Helens Symphony, inspired by the volcanic eruption, and Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints, which shows his command of Japanese musical aesthetics.
Hovhaness composed for orchestras around the world and collaborated with Martha Graham, choreographer Erick Hawkins, and numerous soloists. He created more than 70 symphonies and an untold number of chamber, choral, and solo works. His music was performed in cathedrals, on television, in national parks, and even on outer space-themed broadcasts.
A Composer of Spiritual Depth
To know Hovhaness’s music is to begin to know the man. He was deeply spiritual but not dogmatic. He believed music could purify the soul, and many of his works were inspired by natural landscapes, sacred texts, and mystical traditions from East and West. He described his musical goals as “to inspire all mankind with new heroism and spiritual nobility”.
He was also a master of counterpoint and fugue, often embedding complex forms inside music that sounded effortlessly graceful. His personal life, which included artistic struggle, several marriages, and a late-in-life peace with his wife Hinako, was as multifaceted as his compositions.
Recommended Playlist – Start Here
If you’re new to Hovhaness, this curated playlist offers a glimpse into his musical world. Each piece represents a different facet of his creativity:
- Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain” – A serene and majestic introduction to his orchestral voice.
- Prayer of St. Gregory – One of his most spiritual and accessible pieces.
- And God Created Great Whales – A stunning fusion of natural sound and orchestral color.
- Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints – A captivating display of East-West synthesis.
- Mount St. Helens Symphony – Evokes both awe and disaster through music.
- Lousadzak (Piano Concerto) – Features his unique “spirit murmur” technique.
- Magnificat – A choral work showcasing his sacred compositional style.
- Rubaiyat – A haunting setting of Persian poetry for narrator and orchestra.
Legacy and Influence
Although often misunderstood by his peers, Alan Hovhaness left behind a body of work that continues to resonate. His music is frequently performed by students and professionals alike. Conductor Gerard Schwarz called him “one of the great melodists of the 20th century” and remains one of his strongest champions.
In an age of noise and complexity, Hovhaness offers something rare: stillness, dignity, and the sublime.
Explore more about Alan Hovhaness on these websites:
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.”