Des Moines Symphony

Out of This World
By Robert Markow

 BACH: TOCCATA AND FUGUE IN D MINOR, BWV 565

         (arr. Stokowski)

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Born in Eisenach, March 21, 1685; died in Leipzig, July 28, 1750

In dramatic power, grandeur and contrapuntal complexity, the Toccata and Fugue in D minor represents the very pinnacle of Bach's genius. It is famous enough in its original form for organ alone (composed probably before 1708), but through its transcriptions for full orchestra by Leopold Stokowski and others - not to mention its use in Walt Disney's Fantasia and more recently Phantom of the Opera - it has become one of the best-known works in all classical music.

The opening of this Toccata (literally, "touch piece") owes its character to abrupt and frequent pauses, while the Fugue is a huge musical juggernaut of contrapuntal virtuosity. Stokowski, during his tenure as music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra (1912-1936), transcribed many of Bach's organ works for full orchestra, a task for which he was eminently suited through his extraordinary knowledge of orchestral sonorities and colors as well as through a deep love for Bach. He completed the Toccata and Fugue in 1925 and first conducted it with The Philadelphia Orchestra the following year.

"This music has a power and majesty that is cosmic," said Stokowski. "One of its main characteristics is immense freedom of rhythm, and plasticity of melodic outline. In the sequence of harmonies it is bold. Its tonal architecture is irregular and asymmetric. Its inspiration flows unendingly. Its spirit is universal."

          (Symphony No. 2)

    I. Andante

               II. Moderato; Presto

              III. Andante con moto

ALAN HOVHANESS: Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, March 8, 1911; died in Seattle, June 21, 2000

Across his long life span of 89 years, Alan Hovhaness was regarded as on of America's most esteemed and original musical thinkers. He blithely ignored the many styles, movements and isms that constituted the parade of twentieth-century music, going his own way and writing in his own idiom. Born near Boston of Armenian and Scottish descent, Hovhaness early in life became attracted to the cultures of Eastern lands, especially Armenia, India, Nepal and Japan, aspects of whose music he blended with western modal scales, Renaissance vocal style, Baroque counterpoint, the ecstatic mysticism of the Armenian church, and a contemporary predilection for unusual timbral combinations.

pyramids, of man's attempt to know God," he claimed. Hovhaness lived for many years in the shadow of two of America's most beautiful mountain ranges, the Cascades and the Olympics, and drew daily inspiration from Mt. Rainier, which he could see from his Seattle home. 

Mysterious Mountain was written for the Houston Symphony, a commission by Leopold Stokowski for his first concert with that orchestra on October 31, 1955.  Mysterious Mountain quickly became Hovhaness' most popular work. The explanation for this comes from Houston critic Hubert Roussel: "Hovhaness produces a texture of the utmost beauty, gentleness, distinction and expressive potential. The real mystery of Mysterious Mountain is that it should be so simply, sweetly, innocently lovely in an age that has tried so terribly hard to avoid those impressions in music."