Peter Christ has been one of the most steadfast of
Hovhaness champions; at one time he seemed to be fighting alone. His
struggle is comparable with that of Herschel F Gilbert of Laurel who
has done so much for the cause of Bloch. And what a fight Mr Christ
has fought! He produced in the 1970s a sheaf of weighty LPs on his Poseidon
label - sombrely distinctive for their cover line-drawing of a ruined
Armenian church amid a desolate steppe. Symphonies, oratorios, piano
music and songs all appeared. The least spoken of among this complement
were the song LPs (1008 and 1009) made by the noble Armenian bass, Ara
Berberian.
Hovhaness met Berberian circa 1968 after a concert
and the two were soon engaged in plans for recordings of the composer's
songs. In addition Berberian had four songs specially written for him:
From High Armenia Mountain (an epic seven minute span), In
Early Dawn Time, Under a Byzantine Dome and Distant Lake
of Sighs - all recorded here (trs. 10-13).
The sound for this CD has been transcribed from the
best LP stock that could be found. Seth Winner has done an exemplary
job and although there are low level blemishes they are few and the
intrinsic sound quality is sturdy and clearly put across.
The song cycle The Flute Player of the Armenian
Mountains is laid out in five songs many of which sound hieratic
- no doubt accentuated by Berberian's rounded and richly burred bass
voice. The composer makes tough demands on the singer as can be heard
on the long held legato at the end of Lelezar (tr. 2) and in
the temple-dancing final song: Akh, Hoor e, Hoor E, Sirdus. The
piano part is always tonal and of an oriental caste, tinkling, pecking
or repetitive providing a singing 'lawn' or tapestry of sound over which
an invocational, dancing or joyous prayer curves and dives, smiles and
blesses. Gantznin Orern is one of the most sombre and orientally
melismatic. Ararat is similar but is warmed by the light of optimism
and gives the feeling of looking down from, on high, on distant lands.
Dulhey has a piano part which recalls Holst's odd-ball piano
writing.
Distant Land of Sighs was surely written with
knowledge of Holst's Betelgeuse from the Humbert Wolfe settings
and with a touch of This Ae Night by Britten from the Serenade.
Berberian's English tends to thicken when called on. The Byzantine
Dome is a darkling song which charts gloomily minatory depths in
which raindrops are characterised as blotches of blood. After such storm
clouds the light hymn of In Early Dawn Time is a rapturously
liberated song which one senses as a tenor song though Berberian manages
it with style and lightness. From High Armenian Mountain has
a piano part haunted by dissonance - the most dissonant track here.
Dissonance is also present in Live in the Sun which is concerned
with the inhuman beings of blazing light, burning and yet not burned
in the endless conflagration of the sun. The vocal part of From High
Armenian Mountain is a noble cry and exhortation and encouragement
to the people of Armenia. Sonnets 29 and 30 (When, in disgrace with
fortune and men's eyes and When to the sessions of sweet silent
thought) are other sombre pieces - hymnal in character rather like
Vaughan Williams' Old Hundredth crossed with the reflective George
Herbert songs such as I got me flowers). The last song is a setting
of words by Consuelos Cloos. The piano charts a thuddingly breathless
horse ride which slows, rather artfully, just as the voice enters. Passionate
Pagan fierce and free sing your song of ecstasy: a skilled song
of merciless drive.
The words are printed in full in English translation.
Sadly there is no sign of the original Armenian in which the first nine
tracks of the seventeen are sung.
This is a much more varied and engaging collection
than the first and if you must have only one then this is the one to
get. If you already have the first then this is a must-have. I will
continue to implore Crystal to set Mr Winner loose on a good quality
Poseidon LP of the wind orchestra symphony Ani. This, filled
out with some other Hovhaness (or even alone), would be the answer to
the prayers of the composer's many admirers.
Rob Barnett
HOVHANESS SONGS - volume 1
Love Songs of Hafiz
How I Adore Thee
Black Pool of a Cat
Lulaby of the Lake
Dawn at Laona
Three Odes of Solomon
Out of the Depths
Ara Berberian (bass)/Alan Hovhaness (piano)
rec c. 1969
CRYSTAL RECORDS CD815 [50.12]
Alan Hovhaness (piano)