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VISIONS OF THE EAST
ALAN HOVHANESS
Ode to the Temple of Sound; Symphony No. 10 (Vahaken); Floating World; Meditation on Zeami
Frost Symphony Orchestra

Chung Park

Centaur- 2954(CD)
No Reference Recording

rating

This is one of the best Hovhaness recordings to come along in quite a while. Yes, much of his music has a familiar, repetitive quality: bells and gongs, rippling harps, sinuous Eastern melodies, the occasional fugue (especially in the symphonies), the use of glissandos, soft chord clusters, and rhythmically free episodes inspired by his study of Korean and Japanese traditional music, and a love of simple prettiness connects all of these pieces. But this doesn't mean that they are identical.

For example, Floating World is a symphonic poem that includes a clear march episode (unusual in Hovhaness) and a more pungent harmonic language than we usually find. The symphony, in three movements of modest length, has a directness and concision that really is "symphonic", comparatively. Both Ode to the Temple of Sound and Meditation on Zeami are just plain gorgeous, in the vein of Mysterious Mountain or Fra Angelico. All are CD premieres, and all are splendidly played and recorded by the orchestra of the University of Miami. Fans of the composer, and you know who you are, will definitely want this. [2/13/2009]

--David Hurwitz



JOSEPH HAYDN
MICHAEL HAYDN
Jasper de Waal (horn); Jörgen van Rijen (trombone)
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Henk Rubingh
Channel Classics

THE BALKAN PROJECT
Songs & Dances arranged by various composers, including Carlos Rafael Rivera, Vojislav Ivanovic, Boris Gaquere, Atanas Ourkouzounov, others
Cavatina Duo--Eugenia Moliner (flute); Denis Azabagic (guitar)
Cedille

ALAN HOVHANESS
Trinity College of Music Wind Orchestra
Keith Brion
Naxos

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Malin Hartelius, Martina Janková (soprano); Anna Bonitatibus (mezzo-soprano);
Javier Camarena (tenor) Ruben Drole (baritone); Oliver Widmer (bass-baritone)
Zurich Opera House Chorus
& Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst
Arthaus Musik

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
The Choir of Clare College Cambridge
The Dmitri Ensemble
David Willcocks
Albion Records

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