ArmenPress
Nov 30 2004

ALAN HOVHANES CHAMBER MUSIC ORCHESTRA MARKS 20-TH ANNIVERSARY

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian chamber orchestra
that was renamed two years ago as Alan Hovhanes Chamber Orchestra,
convened a news conference today to say that it has become 20 years
old. The orchestra has been performing largely the music composed by
Alan Hovhaness, a prolific US-born composer with Armenian blood, who
melded Western and Asian musical styles to create a unique melodic
blend of his own.
Hovhaness wrote more than 400 pieces, including at least nine
operas, two ballets, more than 60 symphonies, and more than 100
chamber pieces. He was born Alan Chamakjian, in Somerville,
Massachusetts, in 1911. His mother was Scottish and his father, an
Armenian chemistry professor.
An American concert pianist Martin Berkovsky who is in Yerevan to
play a concert here, said he was impressed greatly by Armenian music.