Hovhaness / Pompili - Pno Works - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Album Tracks 1. Toccata 2. Waltz - Caprice 3. Dance 4. Adagio 5. Poem 6. Allegro Vivace 7. Andante Tranquillo 8. Allegro Assai 9. Nocturne 10. Romance 11. Waltz

This program brings together a wide variety of Alan Hovhaness' works including numerous world premiere recordings. These range from the earliest of his band compositions, the processional 'Tapor No. 1,' to more recent chamber pieces such as the gentle barcarole of 'Vision on a Starry Night. The Ruins of Ani' returns us to the tragic location also explored in Hovhaness Symphony No. 23 Ani', while the 'Three Improvisations on Folk Tunes' evoke dances from the Indian subcontinent. Newly discovered works with percussion include the Japanese-influenced overture to Hovhaness' opera 'The Burning House' alongside 'October Mountain,' now a classic in it's genre. Album Tracks 1. Tapor No. 1, Processional for Band, Op. 14 (1948) 2. Mountain Under the Sea, Op. 392 for Alto Saxophone, Percussion and Harp (1984) 3. Three Improvisations on Folk Tunes, Op. 248, No. 2 for Band (1952) 4. Vision on a Starry Night, Op. 384 for Flute, Harp and Percussion (1985) 5. October Mountain, Op. 136 for Percussion Sextet (1942/1951) 6. Hymn to Yerevan, Op. 83 for Band (1969) 7. Meditation on Ardalus, Op. 156, No.2 for Flute Alone 8. The Ruins of Ani, 'Lament for Ani, City of a Thousand Churches', Op. 250, No. 1 for Eight Clarinets (1972) 9. Overture to the Burning House Op. 185A for Flute and Percussion Quartet (1962) 10. Suite for Band, Op. 15 (1948)

Considering Ignaz Pleyel's complete oeuvre, his works for solo piano are not so numerous like in the oeuvres by Haydn, Wanhal, Kozeluch, Clementi, Mozart or Dussek. Pleyel's varied piano chamber music (48 piano trios and 15 violin sonatas (violin & piano)) proves his preference for this genre, obviously an inspiration during his youth. However, his mastery in composing appears also in his works for solo piano, such as the sonatas Ben 571, 572, 601-670 and in his own arrangements of his chamber music like the Sonata in three movements V, G major, Ben 332, 1786, which is recorded on this album. This sonata is played in a subtle way by the pianist Varvara Manukyan on a grand piano of Camille Pleyel. Compared with other grand pianos of that time, this one has the finest and leanest sound, due to it's very thin soundboard, it's thin strings and little lightweight hammers. Album Tracks 1. Sonate V, G-Dur, Aus Dem Streichquartett Ben 332 (1786) 2. 4 Nocturnes 3. Nocturne À la Field B-Dur Op. 54 (1828) 4. Trois Nocturnes Op. 9 (1830-1832) Dédiés À Madame Camille Pleyel