Alan Hovhaness is an Armenian American composer whose music knows no end to experiments with styles, modes, and even instrumentation. But the core of his work seems to be mystical, as in Symphony 6 Celestial Gate based on a painting by the mystic Hermon de Giovanno. His Concerto for Orchestra, No. 7 is a 1953 work with Hindustan elements in it; but like a true concerto for orchestra, it makes its rounds to all the instruments. Tzaikerk, or Evening Song, is for flute, violin, timpani and string orchestra is heavily influenced by Korean (or Asian) music. This is a diverse collection by one of our best. --Paul Cook
