Concerto No. 2 Op 89a Cover Image

Concerto No. 2 Op 89a: String Orchestra Study Score

$99.00 USD
$99.00 USD
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Concerto No. 2 Op 89a Cover Image
Concerto No. 2 Op 89a: String Orchestra Study Score

Concerto No. 2 Op 89a: String Orchestra Study Score

By Alan Hovhaness

Item: 98-EP6113
$99.00
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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
ISBN10: 0-300-70873-4
ISBN13: 979-0-300-70873-7
UPC: 9790300708737
SKU: 98-EP6113

More about this title

About the Composer: Alan Hovhaness

Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) was an American composer of Armenian descent whose prolific output spanned nearly seven decades. He wrote over 500 works across all genres, yet remained less familiar to many musicians than his influence and catalog warranted. His music draws deeply from Armenian folk traditions, Eastern Orthodox chant, and Indian classical music, creating a soundworld that is both spiritually meditative and structurally inventive.

Hovhaness developed his compositional voice early and resisted the twelve-tone and serial trends that dominated mid-century American classical music. His string writing is particularly distinguished by its lyricism and layered textures, making his orchestral works valuable additions to the repertoire for musicians seeking alternatives to the European modernist canon.

Why we love this

Hovhaness's Concerto No. 2 combines the formal rigor of the concerto grosso with the harmonic language of 20th-century modernism, offering string orchestras a sophisticated yet lyrical work that doesn't require a chamber ensemble within the ensemble. The piece rewards careful attention to balance and voice leading, giving every musician a genuine stake in the texture.

What to expect

The music unfolds with contemplative depth, layering melodic lines that sing in conversation rather than compete. Harmonic movement is deliberate and often modal, creating an atmosphere that feels both ancient and contemporary, introspective yet capable of sudden warmth and lyricism.

Who it's for

This study score serves advanced high school and college-level string orchestras with strong musicianship and ensemble experience. Conductors preparing this work will find the study score invaluable for detailed score study before rehearsal, given its clear layout and the intricate textural writing typical of Hovhaness's orchestration.

How to get the most out of it

  • Honor the work's tonal centers and harmonic relationships by listening carefully to how sustained tones interact with moving lines; resist over-vibrato that muddies ensemble blend.
  • Attend to dynamic shaping across entire phrases rather than individual measures; Hovhaness often uses gradual dynamic evolution to create formal structure.
  • Balance the concertino (lead violin or small group) against the ripieno (full orchestra) with precision; this clarity is essential to the work's architectural clarity.

How to use it

This work pairs naturally with other 20th-century repertoire that explores non-Western and spiritual influences; consider programming it alongside Copland, Creston, or other American composers who drew from folk traditions. It also works well as a centerpiece for a concert exploring string orchestra literature beyond the Romantic and early Modernist canon.

Skills your students will build

  • Blend and balance in multi-layered textural writing
  • Intonation in modal and non-traditional harmonic contexts
  • Ensemble listening across the full orchestra without conductor-dependence
  • Sustained phrasing and dynamic control
  • Sight-reading of contemporary notational practices

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