Der armenische Pianist und Komponist - sein Werk umfasst über 400 Kompositionen, darunter 63 Sinfonien, etliche noch unaufgeführt - spielt hier als 76-Jähriger (Aufnahme von 1987) eigene Klavierstücke. Shalimar (die Titelkomposition) bezieht sich auf die Gärten der Moghulherrscher in Kashmir. Hovhanes ist einWeltmusikpionier. Er integriert die Tonalität anderer Musikkulturen (Indien, Persien, Japan) und die Polyphonie der europäischen Renaissance in seine oft so einfach wirkenden Pianostücke. Hovhaness ist einer der Wenigen, die viel weniger nach Außen zeigen, als sie haben. Einer, den es zu entdecken gilt.

the project

Shalimar is the world premier recording of Alan Hovhaness performing his own compositions for piano. It offers authoritative and lasting renditions of the work of this legendary composer. Alan Hovhaness' musical output is tremendous having written numerous pieces for the solo piano. The selections chosen for this release are those which best exemplify the beautiful and sublime nature that is the essence of his unique and personal style. Hovhaness' music is built on clear tonal centers and repetitive patterns. Contrary to the sheer rhythmic drive of minimalism, his music is also divinely melodic. Integrating exotic scales, rhythms, and instrumental figurations of the Orient with modal harmony and structures of Western classical music, Hovhaness has created a highly evolved and universal approach to art. From Shalimar, his tribute to Kashmir, to the gentle Love Song Vanishing Into Sounds of Crickets Op. 327, given as a valentine to his wife, the compositions here are delicate, sophisticated, and exceptionally lovely.

the artist/composer

"Hovhaness comes from a small planet where it is always Christmas and where there are no bad sounds." Composer Bernard Rogers

Alan Hovhaness is one of America's greatest composers. Notes Joel Schwartz, "Hovhaness perhaps is [our] most prolific and certainly one of [our] most performed contemporary composers of classical music." Hovhaness has composed over 400 works including symphonies, chamber pieces, operas, oratorios, and compositions for South Indian and Korean instruments. The great conductors Stokowski and Kostelanetz were champions of Hovhaness' music and commissioned several works by the composer. Hovhaness is also the recipient of several grants and honorary degrees. He has studied and composed music in many different countries and conducted performances of his music with major symphony orchestras. In 1967, Hovhaness became Composer-in-Residence with the Seattle Symphony.

tracklist