Alan Hovhaness: a conductor's analysis featuring Symphony No. 4, op. 165 for Wind Orchestra and Symphony No. 17, op. 203 for Metal Orchestra
Date
2016
Authors
Bowles, Michael P., author
Phillips, Rebecca, advisor
Grapes, K. Dawn, committee member
Kenny, Wes, committee member
Balgopal, Meena, committee member
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Abstract
Studying American composers and American music encourages the continued performance of our cultural music masters. Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) is seldom researched and is thus becoming an underperformed composer. He composed during the eclectic compositional era of the twentieth century and is best known for his orchestral works. His music for wind band is not well known by the music community at large. The purpose of this thesis is to provide conductors and performers with a guide to performing and understanding the wind band music of Alan Hovhaness. Part I includes a biographical sketch and summary of Hovhaness’s compositional style. Part II is a conductor’s analysis of two works for winds and percussion. The first is his most well known piece for band, Symphony No. 4 (1958), and the second is a lesser known chamber work Symphony No. 17 (1963). The conductor’s analysis consists of both a theoretical and rehearsal analysis for each work. The theoretical analysis is a survey of each work focusing on form, melody, harmony, texture, dynamics, rhythm, and meter. The rehearsal analysis is comprised of two major sections, first is the considerations for the conductor, and second is considerations for the ensemble. Both sections are designed to guide future performers in executing these two works.