Alan Hovhaness

Alan Hovhaness (March 8, 1911 – June 21, 2000) was an American composer of Armenian and Scottish descent.

Early life

He was born as Alan Vaness Chakmakjian in Somerville, Massachusetts to Haroutioun Hovanes Chakmakjian, a chemistry professor at Tufts College, and Madeleine Scott. (Upon his mother's death (October 3, 1930), he used the surname "Hovaness" in honor of his paternal grandfather, and officially changed it to "Hovhaness" around 1940.) Alan was interested in music from a very early age, and decided to devote himself to composition at the age of 14. He studied at Tufts and then the New England Conservatory of Music, under Frederick Converse.

Related Topics:
Somerville, Massachusetts - Haroutioun Hovanes Chakmakjian - Tufts College - 1940 - Music - New England Conservatory of Music - Frederick Converse

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~