by Alan Hovaness
Album Title: HOVHANESS, A.: Suite for Band / October Mountain / Ruins of Ani
Recording: Central Washington University Wind Ensemble
Conductors: Larry Gookin, Keith Brion, Mark Goodenberger
Publisher: NAXOS 8.559837 Purchase
This is a most fascinating collection of chamber and band compositions by Alan Hovhaness. While the band/wind ensemble symphonies have already been featured previous Naxos recordings the four shorter works (including the premiere recording of Three Improvisations on Folk Tunes) are heard in this collection. Those works are Suite for Band, Tapor No.1 and Hymn to Yerevan. October Mountain is one of the true hallmark compositions for percussion ensemble; percussion is also included in chamber works with flute, alto saxophone and harp. A composition for unaccompanied flute (Meditation ion Ardalus) and The Ruins of Ani, Lament for Ani for clarinet quartet (doubled as an octet) add their hypnotic and lyric poignancy to this program. This stellar recording (as with the Brion/Sousa CDs) is part of the Naxos American Classics series, not the Wind Band Classics series. Very highly recommended.
