Releases
ALAN HOVHANESS - Piano Works vol. 2 - second release
American-Armenian composer Alan Hovhaness was a significant representative of 20th-century music – a composer who sought a path independent to the fashions and trends of his time. He avoided the European avantgarde, instead embracing Armenian and oriental traditions as well as Medieval and Renaissance music. This second volume includes the sonic atmospheres of Hermes Stella, dedicated to the poet-philosopher-mystic Francis Bacon, and the complex and fascinating Piano Sonata ‘Journey to Arcturus’ which takes us to one of the most visible stars from Earth.
MusicWeb International considered Alessandra Pompili “a splendid young exponent of Hovhaness‘ music” in Volume 1 of this edition (CDS7701).
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1. Fantasy on an Ossetin Tune Op. 85 No. 6
2. Hermes Stella Op. 247 - Andante
3. Hermes Stella Op. 247 - Allegro - Senza Misura - Andante
4. Komachi Op. 240 - Spirit of a Willow Tree
5. Komachi Op. 240 - The Sage of Celestial Mountain
6. Komachi Op. 240 - Rain Harp
7. Komachi Op. 240 - Sage Ascending the Mountain
8. Komachi Op. 240 - Flight of Dawn Birds
9. Komachi Op. 240 - Rain on Blue Mountain
10. Komachi Op. 240 - Moon Harp
11. Sonata "Journey to Acturus" Op. 354 - Lullaby
12. Sonata "Journey to Acturus" Op. 354 - Fugue
13. Sonata "Journey to Acturus" Op. 354 - Nocturne
14. Sonata "Journey to Acturus" Op. 354 - Jhala for Star Journey
15. Sonata "Journey to Acturus" Op. 354 - Love Song
16. Sonata "Journey to Acturus" Op. 354 - Jhala for Arcturus
17. Greek Rhapsody No. 1 Op. 63 - Mov. 1
18. Greek Rhapsody No. 1 Op. 63 - Farewell Song of a boy who must go to war
19. Greek Rhapsody No. 1 Op. 63 - Revolution
Track nos. 2, 3, 17, 18 and 19 are World Première Recording
ALAN HOVHANESS - Piano Works - first release
"...Her chosen recital spans almost half a century of Hovhaness's piano music, covering a wide range of the musical sources from which Hovhaness forged his highly personal style — or more accurately, styles — and shining a light on some early rarities. Pompili takes it all in her stride intelligently and sympathetically, whether Hovhaness is speaking to us as contrapuntist, Eastern impressionist, ethnomusicologist, or transcendental musical alchemist.... an attractive and highly recommendable disc." Read more here
"..............Her performances are utterly excellent, revealing the full beauty of Hovhaness' compositions. The recording is also excellent. There are several collections of Hovhaness piano music available, and I would urge those who are already familiar with Hovhaness to urgently add this cd to their collection. For anyone new to Hovhaness, this CD would make an excellent point of departure."
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1. 12 Armenian Folk Songs, Op. 43
2. Ghazal, Op. 36: Ghazal No. 1
3. Ghazal, Op. 36: Ghazal - Sufi
4. Shalimar, Op. 177: 1 - Fantasy
5. Shalimar, Op. 177: 2 - First Interlude
6. Shalimar, Op. 177: 3 - Jhala of the Fountains
7. Shalimar, Op. 177: 4 - Second Interlude
8. Shalimar, Op. 177: 5 - Jhala March
9. Shalimar, Op. 177: 6 - Rain Jhala
10. Shalimar, Op. 177: 7 - Third Interlude
11. Shalimar, Op. 177: 8 - Jhala of the Waterfall
12. Cougar Mountain Sonata Op. 390: I - Adagio cantabile
13. Cougar Mountain Sonata Op. 390: II - Mountain Lament
14. Cougar Mountain Sonata Op. 390: III - Mountain Slumber Song
15. Cougar Mountain Sonata Op. 390: IV - Cougar Mountain Dance
16. Fantasy, Op. 15
17. Dark River and Distant Bell Op. 212: I - Andante con moto
18. Dark River and Distant Bell Op. 212: II - Allegro
19. Dark River and Distant Bell Op. 212: III - Adagio
RADIO BROADCAST: Quasi una Fantasia
".Alessandra and Alan Hovhaness on the Classical music programme “Quasi una Fantasia” from Ponte Radio Unical (conversations and comments in Italian).
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