Divertimento Op. 61 No. 5 Cover Image

Divertimento Op. 61 No. 5: Woodwind Quartet Parts

$35.95 USD
$35.95 USD
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Divertimento Op. 61 No. 5 Cover Image
Divertimento Op. 61 No. 5: Woodwind Quartet Parts

Divertimento Op. 61 No. 5: Woodwind Quartet Parts

For Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon (or Four Clarinets)

By Alan Hovhaness

Item: 98-EP6044
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Additional Details
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 48
ISBN10: 0-300-70710-X
ISBN13: 979-0-300-70710-5
SKU: 98-EP6044

More about this title

About the Composer: Alan Hovhaness

Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) was an Armenian-American composer whose prolific output spanned eight decades and over 500 works across all genres. His music draws deeply from Armenian, Middle Eastern, and Indian musical traditions, creating a distinctive sound that blends modal harmony, folk idioms, and orchestral color in ways that feel both ancient and modern. Hovhaness maintained an independent compositional voice throughout his career, remaining largely outside academic trends while building a devoted following among performers seeking repertoire with spiritual depth and accessibility.

His chamber works, including the Divertimento series, showcase his gift for writing idiomatic parts that sound naturally composed for each instrument while remaining playable by advanced high school and college ensembles. Hovhaness believed music should serve the performer and listener equally; his scores avoid unnecessary technical display while achieving profound expressive results.

Why we love this

Hovhaness writes for woodwind quartet with remarkable clarity and restraint, allowing each voice to sing without competition. The harmonic language feels fresh yet grounded, and the work respects the distinct character of each instrument while building genuine ensemble dialogue. This is music that sounds more sophisticated than it plays, rewarding careful rehearsal without demanding virtuosic gymnastics.

What to expect

The Divertimento unfolds with a meditative quality, drawing listeners into a harmonic world that feels both timeless and intimately crafted. Lyrical passages emerge organically from the four voices, sometimes floating over gently shifting harmonies, creating moments of genuine luminosity without resorting to sentimentality.

Who it's for

This work suits advanced high school and college woodwind quartets seeking standard chamber repertoire that expands beyond the European classical tradition. Ensembles with experience in 20th-century harmony and independent part-writing will find the piece both musically substantial and achievable within a season.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the modal harmonies by listening for the underlying drone or pedal tones that often anchor Hovhaness's harmonic language; let these foundations ring rather than pushing forward rhythmically.
  • Shape phrases around the natural breath patterns of each wind instrument rather than forcing uniform phrasing; allow the oboe or clarinet their natural lyrical arc.
  • Explore the use of slight rubato in sustained passages to honor the folk-song quality of many themes without sacrificing ensemble cohesion.
  • Tune carefully around the intervals created by the harmonic language; some of Hovhaness's sonorities benefit from just intonation rather than equal temperament.

How to use it

This work fits naturally on chamber recitals featuring 20th-century American and world music, pairing well with other modernist works that embrace non-European harmonic systems. It also serves as an engaging program opener or contrast piece on larger concert series, introducing audiences to a major American voice they may not yet know.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading 20th-century harmonic language and non-functional harmony
  • Balancing independent melodic lines in four-part writing
  • Playing with tonal clarity in modal and chromatic contexts
  • Responding to subtle dynamic and textural changes within ensemble
  • Interpreting folk-influenced musical phrasing without exaggeration

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