REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF A COMPOSER
By Nicole Laskowski

Arlington Advocate
/x997989615/Remembering-the-life-of-a-composer
Sep t 5 2008
MA

‘My purpose is to create music not for snobs, but for all people,
music which is beautiful and healing. To attempt what old Chinese
painters called ‘spirit resonance’ in melody and sound.’

Pasquale Tassone remembers the great composer and former Arlington
resident Alan Hovhaness. It was 1974, and Tassone was a young teacher
then. Hovhaness had returned to Arlington and stopped by his old high
school. Tassone and his students were in the middle of practicing
some of Hovhaness’ music when the famous composer quietly entered
the classroom, sat down at the piano and began to play along.

It left a lasting impression on Tassone, who describes Hovhaness’
music as atonal — a style that lost favor in the music world but is
now gaining recognition.

"He is the most illustrious graduate from Arlington High School. He’s
a major, major composer…and he published a tremendous amount of
music," said Tassone, who is the recently retired fine arts director
for schools.

Tassone is hoping that Hovhaness will return to Arlington again, if
only in spirit. In just a couple of years, Hovhaness would have turned
100 years old, and to commemorate this renowned composer, Tassone,
along with Bob Mirak, president of the Armenian Cultural Foundation,
Jack Johnston, neighbor of the Hovhaness family, Aruthr Maranian, John
Bilafer, Ara Ghazarian, curator of the Armenian Cultural Foundation,
and Elizabeth Gregory, formed the Alan Hovhaness Commemorative
Committee in June. The committee is currently planning a series of
events that will hopefully culminate in a plaque laid on the grounds
of Arlington High School.

Alan Vaness Chakmakjian was born in 1911 and moved to 5 Blossom St. in
Arlington with his mother and father, who was a chemistry professor
at Tufts University. To disguise his Armenian heritage, Hovhaness went
by the surname of Vaness until his mother passed away in 1931 when he
embraced his culture and began using the name Hovhaness, according to
a Web site, , and the foremost authority of Hovhaness’
life and music.

He attended Arlington High School and, while he was a student,
he composed two operettas and a lullaby that his fellow students
learned and performed. He graduated from AHS in 1929. While his
father didn’t support his son’s devotion to music and composition,
Hovhaness couldn’t be dragged away. He attended Tufts University and
then Boston’s New England Conservatory. Hovhaness traveled the world,
influenced by ethnic music and natural scenery wherever he went,
and worked with the most talented composers and musicians of his day.

In 1991, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence as
the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. While no country has recognized
the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent entity, Hovhaness
composed an entire symphony for them called "Artsakh."

"The president of Karabakh was so elated that Hovhaness has become
a national hero," said Mirak.

During the course of his musical career, Hovhaness composed more than
500 pieces of music, which includes everything from ballets to operas,
and composed 67 symphonies alone. Some of his more well-known pieces
include a symphony called "Mysterious Mountain" and a piece entitled
"And God Created the Great Whales," which incorporates the recorded
songs of Humpback whales.

In June 2000, Hovhaness passed away in Seattle, according to the
Web site.

Recently Johnston, a neighbor of Hovhaness, proposed commemorating
the musician’s centennial, which sparked the creation of the Alan
Hovhaness Commemorative Committee. The committee is currently in the
process of organizing several events for the community, including a
lecture on Sept. 25 by Tassone to be held at the Jason Russell House,
and a benefit concert on Oct. 5 at the Armenian Cultural Center,
441 Mystic St., featuring internationally renowned pianist Martin
Berkofsky who will perform some of Hovhaness’ music.

The climax of the commemoration will hopefully occur on May 17, 2009
with a dedication ceremony at Arlington High School and a concert
to follow.

At the School Committee’s Sept. 9 meeting, the Alan Hovhaness
Commemorative Committee is planning to present their schedule of
events and ask permission to erect a plaque on school property.