October 2011 Hovhaness Centennial celebrations continue into Fall 2011

Several upcoming concerts pay tribute to Hovhaness in the Fall months of the composer's centennial year. These take place as far afield as Valparaiso, Indiana, Istanbul (Turkey) and London (Great Britain).

Arzruni Performs Hovhaness at University of Istanbul

October 7th sees internationally renowned Hovhaness interpreter Sahan Arzruni give the latest of several Hovhaness centennial piano recitals, this time performing before an audience at Albert Long Hall, Bogaziçi, University of Istanbul, Turkey. His program includes Lake of Van Sonata, Pastoral No.1, Yenovk, Two Ghazals, and Achtamar. Selections from Mr. Arzruni's March centennial concert-lecture in Berkeley, California have already been broadcast widely by American Public Media

Valparaiso's South Shore Orchestra Honors Hovhaness

On October 21st at 7pm, South Shore Orchestra, under their music director Troy Webdell (pictured left) will give a major Hovhaness event dubbed The Coming of Light: Centennial Celebration. This is the second concert of SSO's Global Expressions season, and focuses on a composer whose work has long been close to Mr. Webdell's heart; in previous seasons he has programmed Hovhaness's piano concerto Lousadzak and Symphony No.1 Exile.

The evening's program comprises Anahid, Avak the Healer (soprano Natalie Mann), Four Bagatelles, Seven Greek Folk Dances (Harlan Bjornstad, harmonica), and Sonata for Two Clarinets. SSO is a unique mixture of professional and community musicians whose primary goal is to "orchestrate a musical community" through concerts and musical partnerships across the local area. The event takes place at Ivy Tech College Auditorium Theater, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive, Valparaiso, Indiana.

Hovhaness Returns to England's Planet Tree Music Festival

November 17-18 sees the spotlight on Hovhaness again as part of the 8th Planet Tree Music Festival in London, England. This unique festival, described by Terry Riley as "uncompromising in its artistic integrity" has frequently featured Hovhaness in the past - not surprising as its focus is largely on tonal contemporary music and the idea that "contemporary music can be very attractive and seductively beautiful, and can be straightforward, positive and appealing and have more feminine or softer aspects".

Festival director and composer Lawrence Ball (whose 60th birthday year is also commemorated) has programmed two Hovhaness-themed events to celebrate the centenary year. These will see Mark Swartzentruber and Alessandra Celletti perform the composer's works for piano, as well as a concert in which the D'Angelo Trio perform Hovhaness's 1971 chamber cantata Saturn.