Hovhaness 1955 SY02 Mysterious Mountain

[@laurencemckinney646]

Alan Hovhaness grew up here in Arlington Massachusetts as Allan Chackmajian and had his first opera performed at the Arlington High School - he didn't like modern music at all - and loved lush chordal patterns - and in the thirties, he was exposed to Ravi Shakar's older brother's company (Uday Shanker) which injected Indian aspects into his later works. My father organized the Albany Symphony and wrote a book about the instruments of the orchestra (People of Note) - and the verse about the "conductor" was a spoof on celebrity composer Leopold Stokowski (the one in Fantasia shaking hands with Mickey). Stokowski and Hovhaness were long time friends and Mysterious Mountain was a commission - this first recording is conducted by Stokowski and is usually considered to be the finest. I myself met Ravi Shanker (real name Chowdhury - a good Bengali name) during his first tours and learned to play the sitar - my aunt, who died at the age of 94 remembered her time at the Museum School - and often making a dinner for a hungry conservatory student .. named Alan Hovhanness. This piece wraps up a lot of my own past ... of course, we all knew it in my family.

[@sgcollins]

Laurence McKinney i'm glad to know that extra stuff about hovhaness growing up around boston, thanks laurence.

[@2standard]

Didn't grow up around Boston, or anywhere nearby. But I've always loved the music. Thanks for the background.

[@natalyahennings1085]

Thank you for your comment, it was very illuminating for me.

[@josephanthony8585]

He later moved to the Pacific Northwest where he lived out the rest of his life. Much of his music is inspired by the mountainous topography of the Pacific Northwest.

[@alexandrecosta2708]

Something unique about Hovhaness is how he builds slowly, very slowly but renlentless and without any return, his perfectly serene music upwards. Only Mahler (Abschied of Das Lied von der Erde), Mozart (Requiem) and Beethoven (3th. Mov. of IX Symphony) reach that level in my really humble opinion. Herzfeld wrote (We and the Music) - the real geniality in music crosses a subtil but universal border. Those who love music may not understand when it is crossed. But indeed...they can feel it. ". Greetings from Portugal, and a thousand thanks. Sublime.

[@AMsamification]

lOVELY OF YOU

[@TheRealRedAce]

Sibelius and Vaughan-Williams have also achieved this in several of their works.

[@mickeykarger4056]

Still and always one of the most beautiful symphonic pieces ever written. Wait--it'll be used as the soundtrack of some great and future movie and then it will be as well known as it should be.

[@errolflynn737]

This piece transports me to another place each time I hear it. Mountains, coasts, deserts, plains, rivers, lakes. Soothes my very soul. I'm grateful for the upload.

[@DaveGorman31175]

+John Myers So glad you enjoy. It's a stunning piece.

[@patriciagullickson9591]

Dave Gorman I just discovered this cat.. listening on subway in Manhattan with headphones I had to get off the train !!! heavy dude...wow.. listening all week...this cats blowing my mind... thanks from Brooklyn.

[@DaveGorman31175]

Good stuff, isn't it? You're welcome, and I'm so glad you're enjoying!

[@errolflynn737]

I'm working on a video now that you might enjoy. Different genre of music but feeds the spirit. I'll send you a link next week when complete. Would appreciate your feedback. Take care.

[@DaveGorman31175]

Excellent! Thanks -- I'm looking forward to it!

[@vintnerster]

I twice met and conversed with Alan Hovhaness, once in Seattle and again in Vancouver, both facilitated by the peerless Gerard Schwartz. AH had a poet's way of putting thought into words but his musical utterance was inimitable. People rarely mention his love of and mastery of fugue and counterpoint. Thanks to Dave for publishing this performance.

[@stephenberry7785]

Just discovered this composer - wow!!!! Absolutely terrific writing, full of magical moments. There are definite shades of Vaughan Williams and his English contemporaries here and I can't wait to explore other works by this clearly under-rated composer.

[@rolandbuck4005]

The resemblance to Vaughan Williams is due to the fact that both wrote modal music. For example, Vaughan William's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is written in the Phrygian mode. But while Vaughan Williams got his familiarity with modal music from English folk and early music, Hovhaness got his exposure to modality and to the great variety of scales he used from eastern music.

[@williamrubinstein3442]

Yes. One wonders if RVW, who died in 1958, ever heard any of Hovhaness's music.

[@williamrubinstein3442]

He is similar in many ways to Vaughan Williams. They are arguably the two greatest composers of the 20th century.

[@daphneanson9587]

At his best- as here- Hovhaness was one of the very greatest of 20th century composers, sadly neglected.

[@gurusoft1]

Some of my favorite pieces by the marvelous Armenian American composer Alan Hovhanness: -Celestial Gate - a tour de force; a trip -Mysterious Mountain (this peace) - first and last 5 minutes are some of the most magnificent chords I have ever heard. Mysticism personified. -Hymn to Glacier Peak - Soaringly beautiful -Symphony #8 - my current favorite of his. so well done. -Loon Lake - a magnificent nature journey -St. Gregory - holy -Alleluia and Fugue -Arevakal -Khrimian Hairig -Cello Concerto -The Spirit of the Trees -Christmas Symphony -City of Light -Psalm and Fugue -Artik

[@marchprof1248]

+Roy Posner yes! & his Prayer to St. Gregory (besides being a 'standard' in solo trumpet repertoire, is stunningly simply beautiful as well

[@ShimOhio]

Thank you... I'll be going there soon.

[@fredgalvez4363]

thankyou much !

[@daphneanson9587]

Also Symphony 22 "City of Light," fourth movement and his Prayer to St. Gregory. Hovhaness ranks with Vaughan Williams - similar in style- as two of the 20th century's greatest composers.

[@daphneanson9587]

Symphony 22 and the Prayer of St. Gregory.

[@amylynnharp]

I have loved this piece ever since I first heard it -- gorgeous.

[@fredgalvez4363]

always fries my socks .. a symphonic tone poem in 3 movements .. describing mans search for God , I first heard it in 1963 as a sophmore in high school and yes was immediated mesmerized by its voice + Have listened and shared it ever since .. peace to all +

[@ToddB987]

This is fantastic!! love those twinkling notes sprinkled among the piece. Reminds me of ice of snow sparkling in the sunlight. Does evoke loneliness and emptiness. In a strange way it takes me back to my childhood going to my Grandmother big farmhouse which was full of life and activity. Since her passing this past December. Now I see that house lonely and empty void of her presents and gatherings ,with windows opened and slight flutter of the cotton curtains from a Iowa breeze blowing through into empty rooms were once full of life..

[@fredgalvez4363]

amen + see my comments above ..

[@gurusoft1]

Last 5 minutes is like being enwrapped in the Sublime. Some of the most divine-like music I have ever heard.

[@kuang-licheng402]

a piece best showing the charm of the composer

[@rolandbuck4005]

The 20th century is over, and the dominance of atonality and serialism are on the way out. In the 21st century it is once more acceptable for composers to write beautiful and spiritual music. Therefore is time for the unjust neglect of Hovhaness to come to an end and that he be recognized as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

[@johnappleseed8369]

yawn

[@thewhatorwhy]

Some spiritual people say that music of higher dimensions is atonal.

[@davehshs651]

+Roland Buck God! I hope you're right about atonality and serialism being on the way out.

[@johnappleseed8369]

That evil serialism, perverting the minds of today's youth!

[@davehshs651]

+John Appleseed You apparently are unable to recognize the beauty and depth of Hovhaness's music. Perhaps your mind was perverted by that evil serialism.

[@leswhite8422]

I have listened to ClassicFM for many years and can honestly say I have never heard them play anything by this underrated composer, to not feel anything when you hear his music means you do not have a soul.

[@00herulian99]

This composer, catches the authentic atmosphere, of epic. His music, does things, far beyond, mere academic classical composition. There is something grand, and out of the ordinary, in it. He understood things, his contemporaries ( and many, after them, in our own time ), have not as yet, glimpsed ... I firmly believe, that he was inspired, to awaken the soul, of his hearers, to sublime realities, that are dawning, to counterweigh, the terrible things, happening, to close our historical period.

[@fredgalvez4363]

yes , as I commented above , his music carries souls - bridges worlds Peace +

[@glsigalos]

Reminds me a lot of Vaughn-Williams' music.

[@normansaulnier2083]

have you heard Tobias Picker's "old and lost rivers"?

[@margareteast5670]

Does it ever!!

[@boojay111]

@@normansaulnier2083 Hello Norman, thanks for putting me onto Tobias Pickers a new composer for me, most kind

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Jaco Pastorious plays this with Weather Report on 'The Legendary Sessions"! I originally thought this was Grieg.

[@davidmccraley3376]

Just listened to Gustav Holst "Venus" , such beauty and hope , my heart is longing to see my departed sweet sisters.

[@paulonaximento9779]

Delicada, envolvente, sublime...

[@AMsamification]

de verdad

[@normansaulnier2083]

Good music is ( to me ) a physical thing. I feel it throughout my body. This piece almost lifts me out of my chair.

[@AMsamification]

This illustration is doing well for me too...this music is like non silent spring

[@gordongladstone4434]

One of my favorite pieces of contemplative music.

[@WilliamFord972]

Reminds me a lot of Vaughn Williams, especially given the Tonnetz chord progressions.

[@Anguillacat]

You're right. Holst, Vaughn-Williams, Francis Lai, Maurice Jarre.

[@daphneanson9587]

Yes, very similar in many ways. Both were all-time greats.

[@BobfromSalem]

Very nice...Chicago Symphony's recording with Fritz Reiner is also amazing...

[@Timmy3000]

The Reiner version is my favorite. I thought this might be it.

[@jesseboy303]

When I listen to this I feel like somehow making my own Terence Malick-inspired movie just so I could use this music somehow somewhere. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Malick used this piece? It would almost certainly fit right in with The Tree of LIfe!

[@SW-wf3gy]

Marvellous music for my writing.... Thank you

[@xresdkj]

Esse sabe o que faz, sabe o que é compor. Não me vem com esse blá blá que é repetitivo que não cola. Ele é descer ás águas de um rio, interminavelmente, deixando rastros de um som épico, tocante e selene. Uma alma musical urdida na inteligência. Congratulations.

[@bobwatt8282]

One of my favourite composers is Gustav Holst - here Alan Hovhaness reminds me very strongly of Holst's work - Egdon Heath or some of the themes in The Hymn of Jesus (that is meant as a sincere compliment - not a suggestion of plagiarism - because the works are very different). I am going to listen to more of Hovhaness' music - I find it profound - lets see where it goes

[@stefanobiondi3247]

Grazie kary! 1966 and now 2016

[@bravaLiz]

I only have 3 words: I LOVE this. And P.S. Thank You to Dave Gorman for sharing this post.

[@DaveGorman31175]

You're welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@bravaLiz]

@@DaveGorman31175 I was first introduced to this when I was 16 yrs of age. LONG STORY and not for here. But this piece in one word is this: MAJESTIC.

[@hasmikavetyan2793]

Great music

[@rogermueller6034]

I always thought Copland was the best American composer, but Hovhaness blows him out of the H20. His pieces are far more complex, expressive and intriguing.

[@JWentu]

thank you, you made me discover a way of saying I didn't know... even if it meant, first, to understand that H-twenty is actually H2O

[@rogermueller6034]

JWentu yes, water.

[@daphneanson9587]

Add Samuel Barber to the list.

[@AMsamification]

WHY A CONTEST...THEY SOUND VERY DIFFERENTLY we would be losing without either or both of them!!

[@presbyterosBassI]

Yes, why either or? Love them all.

[@dr.kenmahood4917]

Symphony No. 2 (Mysterious Mountain) is a three-movement orchestral composition by the late American composer Alan Hovhaness. The description given on KZbin does not include a full description of the movements which are 1. Andante con moto 2. Double fugue (moderato/allegro) and 3. Andante espressivo. The entire work lasts roughly only 17 minutes ( brief for a symphonic work). About the Composer: Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) was a prolific American composer of Armenian/Scottish descent. Although his name is omitted by several published music encyclopedias, his works remain of interest to serious students of 20th century music. There is no adequate means for numbering his works as he destroyed over a thousand of his own compositions as his life changed and he explored areas such as India, Japan, and his native land in eastern Europe. Opus numbers used by Hovhaness are arbitrary and the statement that this work was commissioned by any orchestra is unsubstantiated.

[@freetofu]

I was just listening to some Alice Coltrane and it reminded me of this, so here I am... this is the only thing by him I enjoy, but yeah I really like it a lot.

[@marionlovett7167]

a great piece of beauty. The other three I know of that are very interesting pieces are " CE Qu'ON ENTEND SUR LA MONTAGNE", by Franck,and Liszt with the other one being Strauss "ALPINE SYMPHONY".

[@thesushigod145]

I came here, searching for 'The Youkai Mountain ~ Mysterious Mountain' ngl. Ayaya!

[@FrancoisGlobenskyDoc]

Thank you Dave!

[@DaveGorman31175]

I'm happy to share!

[@FrancoisGlobenskyDoc]

They just played it today on CBC radio 2...

[@MegaCirse]

I think there is a link between the music of Gustav Holst and Alan Hovhaness, not that knowing that Holst liked his reflections in the "mystic", but simply by listening to the works of the two composers side by side. I think there is a link between the music of Gustav Holst and Alan Hovhaness, not that knowing that Holst liked his reflections in the "mystic", but simply by listening to the works of the two composers side by side. One could feel that they were trying to paint similar colors of music ... Hovhaness had in any case more "techniques" more contemporary than Gustav Holst One could feel that they were trying to paint similar colors of music ... Hovhaness had in any case more techniques more contemporary than Holst

[@steveegallo3384]

Philippe Cirse -- Also, that last sad inscrutable Sibelius symphony....I thought I heard an echo......

[@kataisa3]

Exquisite!

[@TreePhilospher]

What a wonderful piece of music! Why? See John Myers' comment below... he says it very well.

[@kathryncallahan9214]

David Salminen s

[@jeffbowell7683]

I don't know if this story is true, but I've read that the title "Mysterious Mountain" was something of an afterthought. the piece was already written, and Hovhaness was asked to give it a title. The title he came up with was a throwaway, but people project their own imaginigs into the music...and why not?

[@steveegallo3384]

Probably the same with Tschaikowsky's "Pathètique," Chopin's "Minute Waltz" and Schmertzweldt's "Cocaine Nachtsmuzik"

[@MonkeyKing3333]

james fadiman brought me here

[@patriciagullickson9591]

Probable Soliton I don't know about blowing anybody out of the water but this cat is blowing me out if the subway I'm riding on....my headphones are exploding with joy

[@andrewhidas1993]

James Fadiman the psychologist, I assume? I still have his "Personality and Personal Growth" textbook on my shelf (for the past 40 years, actually). Give him my regards! (No surprise he is a Hovhaness fan...)

[@Liza1954]

Me too!!!

[@didiergaugain]

SUPER MUSIQUE DENçENDU DU CIEL

[@juandediosrodriguez3886]

The música is spiritual and mistic lanas or World .

[@BobR8453523]

I'm grateful to Al & Sparrow for helping me find this!

[@EinSofVirtuoso]

Love 1:28 :D

[@michaelfantus2946]

Not sure where the fire was on the tempo on this one, especially in the single fugue subject section....if you speed Hovhaness up, you have to rear back on the next phrase so the sonorities can linger and resolve more deliciously.

[@gregweeks1075]

To my aging ears, this sounds like the classic Fritz Reiner recording. But I don't know. So, for the second and last time, I'll request that you provide such information. (If it is already somewhere that I haven't found, my apologies.)

[@DaveGorman31175]

Apologies, when I have the performers information available I include it in the title. Much of my collection consists of MP3s that I've collected over the years, and for many the performer information is not recorded anywhere.

[@gregweeks1075]

Ah, thank you!