KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Speaking of Music: Alan Hovhaness, Oct. 1989, 1 of 2

Analog Audio

Event Type

Interview and Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

SOM.1989.10.03.c2.A

Program Series

Speaking of Music

Program Length

127 min

Part

1 of 2

Dates

1990-02-08 | broadcast
| 1989-10-03 | created

Description

Charles Amirkhanian interviews composer Alan Hovhaness for the San Francisco Exploratorium’s Speaking of Music series, recorded on October 3, 1989. The Armenian-American composer discusses the roots of his musical expression and demonstrates various techniques on the piano. His music is performed by New York pianist Şahan Arzruni, who brings unexcelled vigor to Hovhaness’ early keyboard works and who himself poses some pertinent questions and introduces his evaluation and analysis. Arzruni is later joined by percussionist William Winant in a stirring rendition of selected movements from the rarely performed “Invocations to Vahaken”. (from KPFA Folio)

Genres

20th century classical

Musical Selections

Midnight Bell [from “Five Visionary Landscapes, Op. 214”] (1965) / Alan Hovhaness -- Two Ghazals, Op. 36a–b (1963) / Alan Hovhaness -- Khaldis, Op. 91 [excerpt] (1951) / Alan Hovhaness -- Fra Angelico, Op. 220 [excerpt] (1967) / Alan Hovhaness

Performers

Şahan Arzruni, piano (Midnight Bell ; Ghazals)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Angelico)
Alan Hovhaness, conductor (Angelico)

Subjects

20th century classical
Composition (Music)
Spiritualism
Musical intervals and scales
Music -- China
Music -- Japan
Piano music
Sextets (Piano, trumpets (4), percussion)
Concertos (Piano with instrumental ensemble)
Orchestral music

Related places

San Francisco (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Amirkhanian, Charles
Hovhaness, Alan, 1911-2000
Arzruni, Şahan