Hovhaness, Alan (1911-2000)

US composer. Much of his work is influenced by Armenian religious music as well as elements from other musical cultures, including Indian and Japanese. A prolific composer, he destroyed a great deal of his work in 1940.

He studied piano with Heinrich Gebhard and composition with Frederick Converse and Bohuslav Martinů. One of his most original works is the orchestral piece And God Created Great Whales (1970), which incorporates the singing of whales.

Works Opera ten operas.

Orchestral 63 symphonies (1939-88); Arekeval; concerto for orchestra; Ad Lyram.

Instrumental and chamber And God Created Whales (1970) including taped part for humpbacked whale, two Armenian Rhapsodies for strings, 23 concertos (1936-80) including Elibris for flute and strings; Lousadzak for piano and strings; concerto for trumpet and strings; Sosi for violin piano, percussion, and strings; chamber music including five string quartets (1936-76).