Alan Hovhaness Quotes

Powerful Alan Hovhaness for Daily Growth

About Alan Hovhaness

Alan Hovhaness (September 1, 1911 – November 21, 2000) was a prolific American composer of Armenian heritage, known for his distinctive musical style that blended Eastern and Western traditions. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Armenian parents who had immigrated from the Ottoman Empire, Hovhaness spent much of his childhood in Armenia before returning to the United States to pursue a career in music. Inspired by a diverse range of influences, including folk music, religious music, and the natural world, Hovhaness developed a unique compositional voice that was characterized by extended tonality, modal harmony, and an emphasis on melody. He composed over 400 works during his long and productive career, which included symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and choral pieces. Hovhaness's major works are marked by a deep spirituality and an exploration of themes related to nature and the universe. Among his most famous compositions are "Mysterious Mountain" (1943), "And God Created Great Whales" (1967), and the "Martha Washington Symphony" (1954). He was also known for his long, meditative pieces that often exceeded an hour in length. Throughout his life, Hovhaness remained deeply connected to his Armenian heritage and sought to promote peace and understanding between nations through his music. He traveled extensively, lived in various countries, and worked with orchestras around the world. Despite facing financial struggles and periods of obscurity, Hovhaness's unique musical vision and dedication to his craft ensured his lasting influence on American composition.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The more I live, the more I love."

The quote by Alan Hovhaness, "The more I live, the more I love," suggests that as one experiences life, their capacity for love expands. This could be interpreted as an increase in empathy, understanding, and emotional depth as a result of encounters with diverse people, places, and experiences. It implies that the richness of life enhances our ability to connect deeply and compassionately with others. In essence, living more enriches our capacity for love.

"Music is the language of the spirit."

The quote suggests that music, like a universal language, has the power to express profound emotions and spiritual sentiments beyond the limitations of mere words. It implies that through music, human beings can communicate their inner thoughts, feelings, and aspirations with others, transcending cultural, geographical, or temporal boundaries. In essence, Alan Hovhaness asserts that music functions as a conduit for the expression of our deepest spiritual connections and shared humanity.

"I feel that music should be as free as a bird, not caged in by rules and regulations."

This quote implies that Alan Hovhaness believes that music, like a bird, should have the freedom to soar without being confined by strict rules or regulations. He suggests that creativity, innovation, and emotional expression are essential aspects of music, and these elements may be stifled when they are bound by too many restrictions. Instead, he encourages a more fluid, organic approach to composing music, allowing it to breathe, evolve, and find its own unique voice.

"Let us have a world of peace, where love and beauty will flourish forevermore."

This quote by Alan Hovhaness expresses a profound desire for global harmony and lasting peace. He envisions a world where love and beauty reign supreme, free from conflict or discord. It is a call to action for humanity to work towards creating such an environment where these qualities can flourish indefinitely, fostering a more compassionate and aesthetically rich society.

"There is always room for a little more beauty in the world."

This quote by Alan Hovhaness emphasizes that there's always an opportunity to add more positivity, joy, and aesthetics to our world. It encourages us to strive towards creating or finding beauty in every aspect of life, be it through art, acts of kindness, personal growth, or simple moments shared with others. Essentially, Hovhaness invites us to continuously improve the quality of our surroundings and relationships by infusing them with a touch more beauty.

I've always regarded nature as the clothing of God.

- Alan Hovhaness

Nature, Always, Regarded, Clothing

There were periods when I sometimes made fires in a large, open fireplace that lasted about two weeks, which was how long it took to burn my compositions. So there has been an awful lot that I have destroyed.

- Alan Hovhaness

Been, Awful Lot, Weeks, Fires

My mother's background was Scottish. She came from an old family, some of whom lived in upper New York State and some of whom had come over from Scotland.

- Alan Hovhaness

New, Some, Over, Scottish

I found a greater identity with my own emotions in the Armenian culture as I grew older, as well as from the beginning, although I didn't know anything about it.

- Alan Hovhaness

Beginning, Emotions, My Own, Armenian

I was much more interested in the orchestra than the piano, but I did become fairly proficient as a pianist and my teachers felt I had talent and wanted me to become a good concert pianist and earn my living that way.

- Alan Hovhaness

Good, Concert, Had, Orchestra

This is not to say that the Scots are not fine people, but they were all sort of... well, my grandfather was a minister and sort of Protestant, and this was rather depressing to me.

- Alan Hovhaness

Say, Rather, Minister, Depressing

I think that of my 21 symphonies, each has its own place.

- Alan Hovhaness

Think, Own, I Think, Symphonies

I did all kinds of things in order to earn a living.

- Alan Hovhaness

Living, Things, Kinds, Earn

No, no, I didn't know him. He lost his mind around 1917 because of the tragedy of the Armenians.

- Alan Hovhaness

Mind, Him, Around, Tragedy

It's hard for me to think of others because I'm not particularly in sympathy with the music of this century.

- Alan Hovhaness

Think, Century, Particularly, Sympathy

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