PRESS RELEASE
HOVHANESS MUSEUM PROJECT
The Cristofori Foundation
Postbox 288
9206 Rogues Road
Casanova, Virginia 20139-0288, USA
email: [email protected]
tel: +1-540-788-3356
fax: +1-540-788-3358
ANNOUNCEMENT — ALAN HOVHANESS MUSEUM PROJECT
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Following the success of the 20th anniversary concert
of Armenia’s Alan Hovhaness Chamber Orchestra (in
November 2004), there is an ambitious plan to build an
Alan Hovhaness Museum and Research Center in Yerevan,
Armenia, the land of Hovhaness’s paternal ancestors.
The city already has a magnificent Khachaturian
museum, and Hovhaness himself bequeathed scores to the
Yeghishe Charents State Museum of Literature and Art
of Armenia when he visited there in 1965.
In 1940, Hovhaness (1911-2000) became organist at St.
James Armenian Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, and
began to thoroughly assimilate the spirit of Armenian
liturgical music into his own works. Although this is
well known with regard to his 1940s ‘Armenian period’,
this influence never fully receded throughout the
ensuing decades. The people of Yerevan have
identified with this music and, as the recent concert
success showed, revere him almost as one of their own.
This is a call to gather materials to send to Yerevan.
The proposed museum will need photos, letters,
concert programs, posters, newspaper and magazine
articles, CD recordings, LP recordings, concert
recordings, scores, transcriptions of radio programs,
reminiscences — in short, anything and everything
possible having to do with Hovhaness. Also
particularly welcome are reminiscences from those who
knew Hovhaness.
We welcome your comments, suggestions and questions.
In Armenia materials will be collected by Alexan
Zakyan, the general manager of the Alan Hovhaness
Chamber Orchestra and president of the “Manana” Public
Beneficial Organization.
Contact:
Alexan Zakyan Co-ordinator, Hovhaness Museum Project
Halabian 11/34
375038 Yerevan
ARMENIA
email: [email protected]
tel./fax: + 374 1 39 54 67
mobile: + 374 9 33 36 84
In the USA, materials will be collected by pianist and
long-time Hovhaness champion Martin Berkofsky.
Contact:
Hovhaness Museum Project
The Cristofori Foundation
Postbox 288
9206 Rogues Road
Casanova, Virginia 20139-0288, USA
email: [email protected]
tel: +1-540-788-3356
fax: +1-540-788-3358
Martin will pass materials to the Armenian Embassy in
Washington to be sent on to Yerevan by secure
diplomatic post. As some may be aware, Martin gave
the first Armenian performance of Hovhaness’s
‘Lousadzak’ in Yerevan in November 2004, as well as
the world premiere of Hovhaness’s Double Piano
Concerto in Moscow earlier that year. He has been an
ambassador for Hovhaness for over 30 years, previously
working with the composer on the recordings of
‘Concerto No.10’, ‘Khaldis’ and ‘Saturn’.
In Europe, Marco Shirodkar will collect materials to
be sent on to Yerevan. Donations can be sent to:
Hovhaness Museum Project
Postbox 16134
London
Great Britain N12 7WB
email:[email protected]
fax: +44-870-458-1640
Marco administers the Alan Hovhaness website
which is where museum progress
reports will be posted. Send whatever you (your local
bookshop, library, college) might have to spare — and
spread the word to everyone possible about this
momentous project!
Those wishing to make donations toward the museum
(which will be used to cover the costs of construction
and materials) can direct checks or money orders to:
Hovhaness Museum Project, The Cristofori Foundation
(address above). Donations are tax deductible.
Thank you very much.
(from Alexan Zakyan, Coordinator, Hovhaness Museum Project)