Symphony XVII (Hovhaness)

Alan Hovhaness

Subtitle: Symphony for Metal Orchestra

This work bears the designation Opus 203.

General Info

Year: 1963
Duration: c. 23:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C.F. Peters
Cost: Score and Parts – Rental | Score Only (print) - $40.00

Movements

1. Andante
2. Largo
3. Allegro
4. Adagio

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Trombone I-II-III
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

Chimes
Glockenspiel
Tam-Tam
Vibraphone (2)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Subtitled Symphony for Metal Orchestra, Alan Hovhaness wrote his Symphony No. 17 in 1963 on a commission from the American Society of Metals. It is written for a special “metal band:” six flutes, tree trombones, and five metal percussion instruments.

- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Manhattan Chamber Orchestra (Richard Auldon Clark, conductor) – 1995
Audio CD: Manhattan Chamber Orchestra (Richard Auldon Clark, conductor) - 1995

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

New England Conservatory (Boston, Mass.) Wind Ensemble (Charles Peltz, conductor) – 10 October 2017

Works for Winds by This Composer

Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints, Op. 211
Glory to God, Op. 124
Hymn to Yerevan, Op. 83
King Vahaken: Is There Survival?, Op. 59
Mountains and Rivers Without End, Op. 225
Prayer of St. Gregory (1946/1952/1972/2012)
Requiem and Resurrection, Op. 224 (1969)
Return and Rebuild the Desolate Places
Sharagan and Fugue (arr. Huelsmann) (1950/2008)
Suite for Band, Op. 15 (1948)
Symphony No. 4, Op. 165 (1958)
Symphony No. 7, "Nanga Parvat," Op. 178 (1959)
Symphony No. 14, "Ararat," Op. 194 (1961)
Symphony No. 17, Symphony for "Metal Orchestra," Op. 203 (1963)
Symphony No. 20, "Three Journeys to a Holy Mountain," Op. 223 (1969)
Symphony No. 23 (1972)
Symphony No. 29 (1977)
Symphony No. 53, "Star Dawn" (1983)
Tapor No. 1 (1968)
Tower Music Op. 129

Resources

Alan Hovhaness website Accessed 10 October 2017
Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Alan Hovhaness." Accessed 10 October 2017
Hovhaness, A. (1963). Symphony for Metal Orchestra (Symphony no. 17) op. 203. [score]. C.F. Peters: New York.
"Symphony for Metal Orchestra." The Wind Band Symphony Archive. Web. Accessed 10 October 2017
"SYMPHONY No. 17; Op. 203 “for Metal Orchestra” by Alan Hovhaness (USA, 1911 – 2000)." WASBE. Web. (Featured as WASBE’s Composition of the Week, 22 February 2021). Accessed 13 January 2023