Composer

:

Alan Hovhaness

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1945

Average_duration

:

16:14

"Tsai-k'êr Evening Song" is a composition for solo piano by American composer Alan Hovhaness. It was composed in 1951 and premiered the same year in New York City. The piece is part of a larger collection of piano works titled "Mountain Idylls," which was inspired by Hovhaness' love for the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The piece is in three movements, with the first and third being slow and contemplative, while the second is more lively and rhythmic. The first movement begins with a simple, haunting melody that is repeated and developed throughout the piece. The second movement is characterized by a driving rhythm and a more complex harmonic structure. The final movement returns to the contemplative mood of the first, with a gentle melody that gradually fades away. One of the most striking characteristics of "Tsai-k'êr Evening Song" is its use of pentatonic scales, which are common in traditional Chinese music. Hovhaness was known for his interest in non-Western musical traditions, and this piece is a prime example of his incorporation of these influences into his own unique style. Overall, "Tsai-k'êr Evening Song" is a beautiful and evocative piece of music that showcases Hovhaness' skill as a composer and his fascination with the natural world and non-Western musical traditions.

More....