Symphony LIII
This work bears the designation Opus 377.
General Info
Year: 1983
Duration: c.13:40
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Fujihara
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Movements
1. Maestoso sostenuto – 8:45
2. Moderator sostenuto con molta espressione – 5:05
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium I-II
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Chimes
- Glockenspiel
- Tam-tam
- Vibraphones (2)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The two-movement wind band symphony Star Dawn was composed in 1983, and takes its title from a phrase by Dante. Hovhaness must have read Dante at an early age, for the solo clarinet melody in the first movement is taken (note for note) from an unpublished 1933 piano miniature itself entitled Star Dawn -- thus 50 years on the composer must have still had that piece (or its title) in his head, or else accidentally re-discovered the manuscript.
In this work evoking space travel, bells symbolize the stars, flowing melodies a sense of journey, and chorales symbolize mankind.
The first movement describes a journey from Earth, the second mankind's arrival at a distant planet. The first movement contains a noteworthy chromatic vibraphone passage of some length. The work's 'symphonic' credentials, however, are somewhat questionable, with a second movement clocking in at a mere four minutes (the first movement is nine minutes). Indeed, the work was originally cast in three movements, but one was discarded.
- Program Note by composer
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Wind Orchestra (Keith Brion, conductor)
- Audio CD: Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Wind Orchestra (Keith Brion, conductor) - 2005
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Central Washington University (Ellensburg) Wind Ensemble (Keith Brion, conductor) – 25 March 2011 (CBDNA 2011 National Conference, Seattle, Wash.)
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 15 August 2021
- "Symphony no. 53 op. 377 “Star Dawn”". Wind Band Symphony Archive. Web. Accessed 15 August 2021