#HovhanessADay September, 2011

The #classicsaday theme for September is the music of composer Alan Hovhaness. In truth, we could probably do #HovhanessADay for several months. This amazingly prolific composer has over 430 compositions in his catalog (not including several early works that he destroyed). His output of 67 symphonies is especially impressive.

Hovhaness was an American composer who decided to go his own way. He ignored the serialism that took hold of classical music in the 1930's and was equally unconcerned by the neo-romantic school.

His music is an interesting blend of simple, yet beautiful harmonies and long melodic lines reminiscent of Gregorian chant. Hovhaness also loved counterpoint, and many of his mult-movement compositions feature at least a section -- if not an entire movement -- working out a fugue.

Hovhaness' music was never well-received by academia. Once a professor complained to Hovhaness that his music didn't go anywhere. Hovhaness, shocked, asked, "Why should it?" His works are often contemplative and spiritual, and like Gregorian chant, don't go anywhere -- but that's their charm.

Hovhaness loved mountains, and many of his works are inspired by, and depict different peaks. His most famous work, "Mysterious Mountain" (his second symphony) perfectly sums up not only Hovhaness' style, but his creative aesthetic as well.

Join us in the month of September for #HovhanessADay.