Suite Op. 21 for English Horn and Bassoon Cover Image

Suite Op. 21 for English Horn and Bassoon: Cor Anglais

$15.75 USD
$15.75 USD
Skip to product information
Suite Op. 21 for English Horn and Bassoon Cover Image
Suite Op. 21 for English Horn and Bassoon: Cor Anglais

Suite Op. 21 for English Horn and Bassoon: Cor Anglais

By Alan Hovhaness

Item: 98-EP6394
$15.75
Shipped

One moment…

Description

Suite Op. 21 for English Horn and Bassoon: Cor Anglais isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

No sample pages found.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 24
ISBN10: 0-30-071273-1
ISBN13: 979-0-3007-1273-4
SKU: 98-EP6394

More about this title

About the Composer: Alan Hovhaness

Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) was an American composer of Armenian descent whose prolific output spanned over seven decades and more than 500 works. His music draws deeply from Armenian folk traditions, Middle Eastern modal systems, and mystical spirituality, creating a distinctive sound that resists conventional harmonic language. Hovhaness maintained a steadfast commitment to melody and spiritual expression throughout his career, often working outside mainstream compositional trends while earning the respect of performers and audiences alike.

Why we love this

Hovhaness crafted this suite specifically for the English horn and bassoon pairing, a rare combination that invites genuine dialogue between two distinctive timbres. The work sits firmly in his voice: lyrical, deeply melodic, and rooted in non-Western harmonic thinking. Programming this piece signals serious engagement with chamber repertoire beyond the usual European canon.

What to expect

The work unfolds with quiet intensity and spiritual contemplation, drawing listeners into a world shaped by Armenian and Middle Eastern modal inflection rather than Western functional harmony. Hovhaness's melodic gift ensures the music remains accessible and deeply human despite its exotic harmonic language.

Who it's for

Advanced double reed players seeking chamber literature that honors both instruments equally and offers a departure from standard Romantic and 20th-century European idioms. This suite rewards musicians comfortable with modal thinking and unconventional harmonic movement.

How to get the most out of it

  • Honor the modal character of the melodic material by resisting the temptation to force traditional major-minor harmonic shapes; let the lines breathe in their own tonal space
  • Balance the English horn's nasal, reedy quality against the bassoon's fuller, earthier tone by sculpting phrase contours together rather than playing parallel lines
  • Explore the recording of Hovhaness compositions alongside this suite to absorb his distinctive approach to phrasing and articulation across his catalog

How to use it

Feature this as a recital or chamber concert centerpiece when programming works by non-Western or underrepresented composers. Pair it with other 20th-century American chamber works, or program it alongside orchestral Hovhaness pieces to create a deeper exploration of a single compositional voice.

Skills your students will build

  • Phrasing in modal and non-functional harmonic contexts
  • Blending two distinct woodwind timbres into unified chamber sound
  • Stylistic interpretation beyond Romantic and Common Practice conventions
  • Musical independence and equality between equal partners in duo writing

You May Also Like