Hovhaness Guitar Concerto
The Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, op. 325 by Alan Hovhaness is a newly
discovered masterpiece of the guitar concerto repertoire. This is its premiere
recording. Composed in 1979 at the height of the composer's creative powers, it is
a 32-minute piece in three broadly proportioned movements. It is written in
Hovhaness' signature style, a mix of Armenian modes and Western Romantic and
experimental traditions. Hovhaness called it "long giant melody", and the result is
stirring and moving.
The problem of balancing the guitar with a full orchestra is brilliantly handled by
the composer and masterfully recorded here. The performance by Leisner and
the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Gerard Schwarz, is
definitive. Also included on this all-Hovhaness CD are the Symphony no. 60 "To
the Appalachian Mountains" and Khrimian Hairig for trumpet and orchestra.
Review from Classics Today.com, by David Hurwitz
Artistic Quality 10
Sound Quality 10
Hovhaness has found a strong advocate in Gerard Schwarz, and about time too. This
prolific and at times prolix composer's music, with its expressively limited mixture of bell
sounds, modal and Eastern harmonies, and simple counterpoint, can sound naïve and
even irritating in large doses. What is so often missing from many performances is
committed playing, giving the music the strength, beauty, and confidence that so often
makes all the difference between "getting through the notes" and the quality of
response that these pieces need and deserve. This disc, all premiere recordings, does
the latter, and even if you dislike Hovhaness you might well be impressed by the results.
Khrimian Hairig is a short, pretty work for solo trumpet and strings much like the
composer's Prayer of St. Gregory. It makes a very nice program opener even though it
tells us nothing especially new. That certainly isn't true of the larger works. The Guitar
Concerto must be numbered among the more successful works in its genre. It has all of
the composer's hallmark fingerprints, but it also reveals an astutely judged
understanding of how to pit such a weak-toned instrument against a large orchestra. In
terms of color, texture, and contrast, the music is wholly beguiling and never overstays
its welcome.
The same holds true for Symphony No. 60. At a bit more than half an hour, this is a
long work for Hovhaness, but the inclusion of some American folk music makes an
interesting contrast with his usual Eastern modes, while the four movements once again
offer an unusually broad range of contrast and sonority. Best of all, the entire program
is extremely well played, from guitarist David Leisner on up. This isn't difficult music
technically, but it must never sound tired or lazy, and here it doesn't. The disc offers
what in effect is an entire mini-concert--overture, concerto, and symphony--and you
can listen to the whole thing straight through without fear of monotony. Sensitive and
coherent notes by the late composer's wife add to the overall appeal, as does the
excellent sound, particularly in the difficult-to-balance Guitar Concerto.
More quotes:
"Soloist David Leisner is a superb musician, with a formidable intellect, taste, and an
excellent technique...Guitarists will be excited to hear this first recording of the
concerto." American Record Guide
"Leisner's tone and phrasing are perfectly fitted to the lush dreamscape of
Hovhaness's music, especially salient in scale passages and shifting chords...Mr.
Schwarz's interpretation never surrenders to being a concerto more than a piece of
music, and Leisner's performance illustrates his support of this approach...Hovhaness's
concerto is one of the guitar's best." Guitar Review
"a most intriguing work, here well performed and recorded" Fanfare
"The ever-dependable David Leisner copes with the guitar concerto with
aplomb...Sometimes Hovhaness achieves an almost Brucknerian grandeur with his
sonorous, brass-laden chords. Add to the mix dashes of orientalism, colourful
percussive effects, and occasional pentatonic folksiness, and you have an appealing
sound world that won't frighten the horses. You can see why some people have
become devoted to this composer." Classical Guitar
"A very beautiful work, wonderfully played by David Leisner...My favorite movement is
the second, a gorgeous series of dialogues between the guitar and other instruments."
Soundboard
Website content © David Leisner 2008. All rights reserved.
The Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, op. 325 by Alan Hovhaness is a newly
discovered masterpiece of the guitar concerto repertoire. This is its premiere
recording. Composed in 1979 at the height of the composer's creative powers, it is
a 32-minute piece in three broadly proportioned movements. It is written in
Hovhaness' signature style, a mix of Armenian modes and Western Romantic and
experimental traditions. Hovhaness called it "long giant melody", and the result is
stirring and moving.
The problem of balancing the guitar with a full orchestra is brilliantly handled by
the composer and masterfully recorded here. The performance by Leisner and
the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Gerard Schwarz, is
definitive. Also included on this all-Hovhaness CD are the Symphony no. 60 "To
the Appalachian Mountains" and Khrimian Hairig for trumpet and orchestra.
Review from Classics Today.com, by David Hurwitz
Artistic Quality 10
Sound Quality 10
Hovhaness has found a strong advocate in Gerard Schwarz, and about time too. This
prolific and at times prolix composer's music, with its expressively limited mixture of bell
sounds, modal and Eastern harmonies, and simple counterpoint, can sound naïve and
even irritating in large doses. What is so often missing from many performances is
committed playing, giving the music the strength, beauty, and confidence that so often
makes all the difference between "getting through the notes" and the quality of
response that these pieces need and deserve. This disc, all premiere recordings, does
the latter, and even if you dislike Hovhaness you might well be impressed by the results.
Khrimian Hairig is a short, pretty work for solo trumpet and strings much like the
composer's Prayer of St. Gregory. It makes a very nice program opener even though it
tells us nothing especially new. That certainly isn't true of the larger works. The Guitar
Concerto must be numbered among the more successful works in its genre. It has all of
the composer's hallmark fingerprints, but it also reveals an astutely judged
understanding of how to pit such a weak-toned instrument against a large orchestra. In
terms of color, texture, and contrast, the music is wholly beguiling and never overstays
its welcome.
The same holds true for Symphony No. 60. At a bit more than half an hour, this is a
long work for Hovhaness, but the inclusion of some American folk music makes an
interesting contrast with his usual Eastern modes, while the four movements once again
offer an unusually broad range of contrast and sonority. Best of all, the entire program
is extremely well played, from guitarist David Leisner on up. This isn't difficult music
technically, but it must never sound tired or lazy, and here it doesn't. The disc offers
what in effect is an entire mini-concert--overture, concerto, and symphony--and you
can listen to the whole thing straight through without fear of monotony. Sensitive and
coherent notes by the late composer's wife add to the overall appeal, as does the
excellent sound, particularly in the difficult-to-balance Guitar Concerto.
More quotes:
"Soloist David Leisner is a superb musician, with a formidable intellect, taste, and an
excellent technique...Guitarists will be excited to hear this first recording of the
concerto." American Record Guide
"Leisner's tone and phrasing are perfectly fitted to the lush dreamscape of
Hovhaness's music, especially salient in scale passages and shifting chords...Mr.
Schwarz's interpretation never surrenders to being a concerto more than a piece of
music, and Leisner's performance illustrates his support of this approach...Hovhaness's
concerto is one of the guitar's best." Guitar Review
"a most intriguing work, here well performed and recorded" Fanfare
"The ever-dependable David Leisner copes with the guitar concerto with
aplomb...Sometimes Hovhaness achieves an almost Brucknerian grandeur with his
sonorous, brass-laden chords. Add to the mix dashes of orientalism, colourful
percussive effects, and occasional pentatonic folksiness, and you have an appealing
sound world that won't frighten the horses. You can see why some people have
become devoted to this composer." Classical Guitar
"A very beautiful work, wonderfully played by David Leisner...My favorite movement is
the second, a gorgeous series of dialogues between the guitar and other instruments."
Soundboard
Website content © David Leisner 2008. All rights reserved.
| CD Program: Guitar Concerto Symphony No. 60 Khrimian Hairig |
