And God Created Great Whales Op. 229 No. 1: Full Orchestra Conductor Score

Hovhaness crafted orchestral works that sound expansive without demanding virtuosic technical displays from every section. This piece exemplifies his gift for building atmospheric sound worlds through careful orchestration and sustained harmonic motion, giving young orchestras a genuine sense of musical accomplishment and allowing all players to contribute meaningfully to the overall effect.

A meditation on vastness and wonder, the piece unfolds with the patient grandeur suggested by its title. Shifting harmonic colors and sustained sonorities evoke the majesty of ocean life, creating an immersive soundscape that rewards attentive listening and careful ensemble balancing.

This conductor score serves orchestras seeking a substantial work that expands their sound palette without requiring advanced technical facility from all parts. The piece works well for young ensembles, community orchestras, and university programs looking to program Hovhaness alongside more familiar classical and contemporary repertoire.

• Balance sustained tones across the ensemble by assigning principal players to lead each harmonic layer; excessive vibrato from multiple voices on the same pitch will muddy the sonority.
• Attend to dynamic shape across longer phrases rather than within individual measures; Hovhaness often writes in gradual swells and recessions that span many bars.
• Allow the lower strings and bass instruments space to define the harmonic foundation; resist the impulse to thicken the upper voices in an attempt to add weight.
• Establish a clear conducting gesture that emphasizes phrase breathing and gentle momentum, avoiding excessive tempo fluctuation that can scatter the contemplative quality.

Program this as a concert opener or as a centerpiece of a thematic concert exploring nature or world music influences. Its contemplative character makes it an effective contrast to more dramatic works, and its moderate length allows room for a substantial second piece on the same program.

• Sustaining steady tone through long phrases without excessive vibrato
• Listening and blending within harmonic structures
• Reading and interpreting extended harmonic progressions
• Responding to subtle dynamic shaping and conductor gesture