Tapor No. 1 Op. 14: Concert Band Conductor Score

Tapor No. 1 gives your band access to Hovhaness's signature sound without requiring advanced harmonic sophistication from the ensemble. The work unfolds with genuine lyricism and clarity, making it rewarding for both students and audiences while the conductor's score reveals the architectural elegance underneath.

Tapor No. 1 unfolds with an unhurried, contemplative character. The harmonic language feels grounded and modal, suggesting ancient traditions while remaining accessible to modern listeners. There is spaciousness in the orchestration, allowing individual voices to register clearly within a unified, luminous whole.

This conductor score serves band directors preparing a work that bridges traditional concert band writing with twentieth-century harmonic thinking. It suits ensembles comfortable with moderate technical demands but seeking repertoire with genuine artistic substance and cultural depth.

• Balance the sustained harmonic foundation against any melodic material that moves above it; Hovhaness often builds texture through layered, static harmonies rather than traditional chord progressions.
• Shape phrases through dynamic tapering rather than relying on tempo changes; the music often benefits from subtle breath and release at natural cadential points.
• Let the lower voices anchor the harmonic color without overwhelming the overall ensemble texture; these works gain their distinctive quality through blended sonority, not weight.

This work sits comfortably in a concert program alongside both traditional band repertoire and newer compositions. Consider pairing it with other American concert band works to highlight twentieth-century approaches to the medium, or program it as a contrasting centerpiece when the surrounding pieces are more rhythmically driven.

• Sustaining long tones with consistent intonation and tone quality
• Hearing and maintaining harmonic clarity in non-functional harmony
• Balancing individual voice lines within an ensemble texture
• Responding to subtle dynamic and phrasing shapes over extended passages