Sunday, November 20, 2016

Alan Hovhaness - Lady of Light, opus 227



The Ambrosian Singers and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Patricia Clark, Soprano
Leslie Fyson, Baritone
Conducted by Alan Hovhaness

Program Notes by Alan Hovhaness:

I composed words and music of Lady of Light in 1968. The story was influenced by the "Chalabala" legend, a kind of Swiss version of the "Pied Piper of Hamlin". I composed the music in Grand Opera style. It was my protest against war.

The two outside pieces, numbers 1 and 18, are like two luminous pillars representing Nirvana or that which is beyond earthly existence. Each pillar is in the same three part form - aria, choral fugue, aria.

Between the two pillars hangs the dark tale of the dance of love and love's martyrdom.

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