Hovhaness 53 "Star Dawn"

8 March 2011 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alan Hovhaness. A little randomly I chose number 53 of his symphonies on spotify (I don't know how many of his 70 or so symphonies are available as recordings).

I have heard Hovhaness's music in the past, without it making a great impression. This symphony seemed pleasant enough with its brass chorales and tuned percussion; a little reminiscent of the so-called "holy minimalism" of composers like Gorecki or some from the former Soviet Union. Given that Hovhaness was American-Armenian, I assume he was working from similar influences, though his titles seem more mystical than conventionally religous.