Alan Hovhaness: Complete Works for Solo Organ
Although Alan Hovhaness (1911–2000) was born in Massachusetts and ended his days in Seattle, his music was profoundly coloured by his Armenian heritage, in particular through his fondness for the modal melos of the ancient Armenian church. His combination of modality and melisma, of hymn and dance, can often make him sound like an eastern cousin of Vaughan Williams. The organ is an ideal medium for his musical language, allowing it to range from timeless, questing prayer to gloriously full-bodied statements to stir the soul.
Tom Winpenny, organ of St. Albans Cathedral
Peter Wright, trumpet
Listen To This Recording:
- Dawn Hymn, Op. 138 (1953)* (4:16)
Organ Sonata No. 1, Op. 352 (1981) (14:05)
- I. Aria (4:17)
- II. Fuga (2:57)
- III. Dance (1:33)
- IV. Arioso (3:17)
- V. Madrigal (2:01)
- Prayer of St. Gregory, Op. 62b (1946, arr. 1946)* (4:31)
Organ Songa No. 2, Op. 386 “Invisible Sun” (1984) (18:42)
- I. Andante con moto – Allegro – Andante con moto (3:19)
- II. Adagio maestoso – Andante cantabile – Fugato: Moderato – Maestoso (5:31)
- III. Adagio con molto espressione – Espressivo (3:32)
- IV. Maestoso – Fuga – Maestoso (6:20)
Sonatina, Op. 382 (1983) (7:19)
- I. Andante (1:22)
- II. Allegretto pastorale (1:44)
- III. Adagio con molto espressione (4:13)
- Sonata for Organ No. 3, Op. 424 “Hermit Thrush” (1990) (6:57)
- Habakkuk, Op. 434 (1995)* (5:29)
Sanahin (Partita), Op. 69 (1951-66) (20:00)
- I. Prelude. Moderato maestoso (2:36)
- II. Estampie. Allegro (2:00)
- III. Meditation. Andante (2:47)
- IV. First Whirling. Allegro (2:57)
- V. Pastoral Meditation. Andante (3:17)
- VI. Second Whirling. Allegretto – Allegro – Allegretto (1:52)
- VII. Apparition in the Sky. Andante (2:52)
- VIII. Processional of Peace. Andante maestoso (1:39)
All Except * First Recordings
hovhaness.com :
‘The music is consistently melodic, modal, and attractively crafted. […]
Though Hovhaness’s modest organ works may not challenge Winpenny’s technical prowess – he has won awards for ‘big beasts’ of the modern repertoire such as Messiaen’s organ cycles – their visionary and meditative qualities benefit magnificently from his interpretive flair and exquisite organ registrations. This is something these works truly need to come off the page, given the composer’s characteristically sparse performance directions. […]
The authoritative booklet notes are by American composer and organist Carson Cooman, himself an exponent of some of this repertoire. […]
Toccata Classics are to be congratulated on getting behind this repertoire, the latest in their now six hundred-odd CD releases promoting “top-notch classical music that…major record companies are ignoring”. And coming almost on the 25th anniversary of the composer’s passing in June 2000, this release marks the first all-Hovhaness CD to be recorded in the UK for release by a UK label.’
—Marco Shirodkar, hovhaness.com