Symphony No.6 "Celestial Gate" - Alan Hovhaness

The Orchestra of Flanders conducted by Rudolf Werthen.

I - : 0:00

Hovhaness' Symphony No.6 was composed in 1959, with some materials going as back as early 1940s. As the subtitle suggests, it was inspired by a painting with the same name by the Greek mystic painter Hermon di Giovanno, who was also the composer's spiritual mentor. However, the symphony is not descriptive in any way. It is scored for a chamber orchestra, being one of the most concise, most thoroughly integrated, and most consistently inspired symponies of the composer.

The symphony wasn't recorded until the early 1970s, but since then it has gradually grown in popularity, benefiting from several fine recorded performances. It is written in a single movement, yet once we move beyond this finite formal "container", we enter a musical space which feels infinitely vast and timeless. Perhaps this is the serene, mystical, and ambient world on the other side of the “Celestial Gate” of Hovhaness’ poetic subtitle.

It opens with a brief introduction with a meditative solo of the bassoon supported by pizzicatos of the bass strings. The clarinet introduces a hypnotic, gently flowing melody of a religious character that calls to mind (but never actually quotes) the Prayer of St. Gregory. This simple, yet endlessly fascinating idea comes to dominate the whole work. It is soon taken by other instruments, adding their nuances in various guises and colors: oboe, strings, flute, and solo violin.

This theme is developed through an extensive and complex counterpoint, culminating in a deeply lyrical passage for solo strings. Contrasting with the previous unearthly beauty of the music, a dark and restless episode which alternates a dramatic, Hebraic-sounding melody in the depths of the lower strings with the disturbing rushing, freely rhythmic fluttering of the upper strings. The horn and trumpet then present a moving recapitulation of the heavenly main theme.

A sudden dissonance in the lower strings heralds a dramatic proclamation by the trumpet, culminating with blows of the tubular bells.Pizzicato strings present an oriental rhythmic theme, followed by the timpani and, eventually, a solo of the flute. After a tense transition, pizzicato strings, bassoon and trumpet follow with a fresh variation of the familiar clarinet melody, restoring the religious ambient of the work. In the final bars, the strings float upwards, evaporating into softly shimmering, angelic light.

Alan Hovhaness’ Sixth Symphony is not a linear journey. Instead, it ushers us into a limitless cosmic expanse filled with mystery and serene grandeur. Often, its musical lines emerge as a deeply meditative, eternally flowing chant. There is no need to move towards a far-off musical goal because we are already there.

Picture: "The School of Plato" (1898) by the Belgian painter Jean Delville.

Source: https://bit.ly/3vluYFo

Видео Symphony No.6 "Celestial Gate" - Alan Hovhaness канала Sergio Cánovas