Symphony No.8 "Arjuna" - Alan Hovhaness
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ken Young. Lynda Cochran as the piano soloist.
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Hovhaness' Symphony No.8 was composed in 1947, it was originally conceived as a double concerto for piano, timpani, and small orchestra. It was also originally entitled "Ardos", after a mountain in Armenia near the Lake of Van, and exhibits a confluence of Armenian and Indian melodic styles. According to Hovhaness, the piece was never properly performed because "the Armenians weren't ready for it".
Much later the score was taken to India, being premiered (with the changed title of "Arjuna") at the Madras Music Festival on February 1, 1960. Handel Manuel conducted the orchestra with Hovhaness on piano. Written when Hovhaness was "writing Armenian music with an Indian slant", the Indian newspaper critics heard it as being in the Indian 'nata bhairavi' mode, thus substantiating the composer's claimed overlap of Armenian and Indian modes.
The work's obscurity can be attributed partially to the fact that it was perhaps unwisely published as a "Symphony" rather than the concertante piece it really is. It is one of Hovhaness's most substantial Armenian-phase works, with huge spun-out melodies, with virtually no harmony or modulation. The timpanist is used almost like a tabla accompanist, and as such may have more work to do than in any prior orchestral work. Some aspects of the work can be seen as early minimalism on a symphonic scale.
The new title refers to Arjuna, the main protagonist of the Indian epic "Mahabharata". In it, he is the third among Pandavas, the five sons of Pandu. The family formed part of the royal line of the Kuru Kingdom. In the Mahabharata War, Arjuna was a key warrior from the Pandava side and slew many warriors including his nemesis, Karna. Before the beginning of the war, his mentor, Krishna, taught him the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita.
The symphony is written in a single movement. Opens with a passionate, noble theme of oriental roots presented by the strings. This theme is the basis of the whole work. After a transition of bass strings and timpani, the piano enters with an extensive solo variation of the theme. The orchestra reappears in a brilliant climax before the piano dominates the scene again. This dinamic is constant, with alternating sections between piano and orchestra, remarking the solitude of the piano soloist.
There are no contrasting sections, new themes nor a "development" in a traditional sense, consisting instead of continously rhythmic variations on the main theme. The violin takes the main place, performing a long solo supported by chords from the piano, with occasional interventions from the wood. The orchestra reappears in a short but noble climax, becoming more active and engaging with the soloist, sharing rich and colorful dialogues. After several alternations between piano and orchestra, the whole ensemble unites and the music rises excitedly, with the symphony concluding in a decided way.
Picture: A photograph of the Arjuna and Krishna statues (Nusa Dua, Bali island, Indonesia).
Musical analysis written by myself. Source: bit.ly/3cDDPMk
Hola. Enhorabuena. Es uno de los mejores canales de música que he visto. El texto que añades es utilísimo. Muchas gracias. En cuanto al contenido, muy interesante. De Hovhaness apenas si había escuchado algo y me interesa mucho. Tengo varias cosas en la lista. Haces un trabajo de primera calidad mundial.
This is an interesting symphony.
There is something ethereal about this piece. It stops you in your tracks. It has a resonance and depth even with the minimalist harmony.
Music to get caught up in and lose yourself in its inevitable flow, phrases descriptive of much of Hovhaness' symphonies. I hadn't heard this one before; thanks for the opportunity. (It's his Op. 179, by the way.)
This is truly phenomenal.
Wonderfully fullsome programme note... Thanks Sergio Cánovas !
The earlier (c.1960) performance is terrific too - in good mono sound....
wait is it just me or does 8:13 (roughly) sound funky? Maybe my computer is messed up but it sounds like a weird audio skip or something like that. Otherwise I am really enjoying this symphony and recording B)
Yeah it's an audio skip that was already there before I edited the audio.
@@SergioCánovasCM Ohhhh I see, thanks for explaining!
I wish I could access the original recording, but it seems that it isn't available. And there is no commercial recording of this symphony so I'm pretty limited.
@@SergioCánovasCM - I think the 1961 perf. was on a private LP or open-spool. COTW / Donald Macleod may have a good copy ! around 2006...
Somebody called RAH had a stereo copy of this perf. c/o radio b'cast... but he doesn't care for Hovhaness.
Symphonies 27 + 28 are the ones to track down....
Класс.