Tapor No. 1 Op. 14 (Processional for Band): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Hovhaness gives you music that sounds substantial and spiritually present without overwhelming a developing ensemble. The processional idiom allows for straightforward conducting and clear articulation of musical ideas, while the harmonic language, rooted in modes and folk melody, opens students' ears to compositional possibilities beyond functional tonality.

Tapor unfolds with ceremonial grace, its processional character established through steady harmonic movement and warm orchestration in the low brass and woodwinds. The piece carries a meditative quality tinged with folk melody, evoking both reverence and forward motion typical of Hovhaness's spiritual aesthetic.

Concert bands at the intermediate to advanced level will find a work of genuine character that suits formal concert programming and festival performance. Directors seeking repertoire that combines accessibility with musical substance will appreciate Hovhaness's straightforward orchestration and clear compositional intent.

• Shape the melodic lines with intentional breath and phrasing rather than playing through phrases mechanically; Hovhaness's gift for songlike writing depends on the band's willingness to sing.
• Balance the percussion section carefully, especially timpani and bass drum, so the forward motion remains clear without overwhelming the harmonic foundation in the lower winds.
• Use consistent concert tempo marking as your rehearsal anchor, and spend time aligning the ensemble's sense of the pulse across sections before addressing other details.

This work functions beautifully as a concert opener or closing selection, establishing a reflective mood without requiring the entire program to follow suit. Program it alongside other 20th-century American or world music works for a concert exploring non-European compositional traditions, or pair it with standard repertoire to add color and spiritual depth to a varied concert.

• Sustaining long melodic lines with consistent tone and dynamic control across phrase boundaries
• Balancing harmonic color between brass and woodwind choirs without losing transparency
• Maintaining steady processional pulse while attending to rubato and expressive phrasing
• Reading straightforward but colorful harmonic language rooted in Hovhaness's fusion of Armenian and Western tonality