New England Triptych to Honor Alan Hovhaness

ARLINGTON, Mass.—New England is set to celebrate and initiate the coming 100th anniversary of Armenian American composer Alan Hovhaness. Memorial events will include the unveiling and dedication of the first monument to the composer in Arlington, Hovhaness’ hometown, a free memorial concert at the Arlington Town Hall, and a long-distance road running event called “All Men are Brothers.” The run will begin in New Hampshire at Mount Monadnock and will end at Hovhaness’ childhood home in Arlington.

Pianist Martin Berkofsky, who during his formative years greatly benefited from his personal contact and communication with Hovhaness and is now a recognized champion and interpreter of Hovhaness’ music, will begin his pilgrimage by climbing Mount Monadnock’s 3,125-foot peak. Hovhaness himself wrote: “I used to climb many mountains in New Hampshire…in 1932 or around that year I played piano in a trio in Shattuck Inn at the foot of Mt. Monadnock and I climbed the mountain every day between the noon concert and evening concert.” Hovhaness regarded mountains as a meeting place between man and God and wrote many works, including the symphonic movement “Monadnock,” named after mountains.

His father, Harutiun Chakmakjian, a Harvard graduate and a professor at Tufts University, and author of the first Armenian-English dictionary, was known to have walked 15 miles in one day in his later years. He was affectionately known to his Arlington neighbors as “professor.”

The name of the pilgrimage—”All Men are Brothers”—is taken from Hovhaness’ 11th Symphony of the same name. He wrote, “Let all unite in peace on our tiny planet.”

Berkofsky celebrated his 60th birthday in 2003 by running 880 miles across the American heartland and raising over $80,000 for cancer research (for more, visit www.celebrateliferun.com). His pilgrimage to Mount Monadnock will start on Sat., May 2, (Sun., May 3, in the event of rain) and will continue at approximately 10 miles a day, crossing the New Hampshire border to Massachusetts along Highways 124, 119, and 225. The final miles in Massachusetts will be run on the Minuteman Bike Path from Bedford, through Lexington, and to the Hovhaness family home at 5 Blossom St. in Arlington. Arrival at Blossom St. is planned for 4 p.m., Wed., May 13. (The same time on Thurs., May 14 is the alternate date in case of rain on the 13th.)

Father Arakel Aljalian of the St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, where Hovhaness played the organ for many years, will speak at the Blossom St. destination. A duduk player will perform music by Hovhaness.

The second event of this memorial triptych will take place on Sun., May 17th at 2 p.m., when the Alan Hovhaness Memorial is unveiled and dedicated at the Jefferson Cutter House on Massachusetts Ave. The conclusion of this Hovhaness triptych will take place at the Arlington Town Hall at 3 p.m. in a free and open to the public concert directed by Dr. Pasquale Tassone. Featured performers will include pianists Martin Berkofsky and Ani Hovsepian. Both Arlington High School ensembles will perform pieces by Hovhaness as well as other short selections, including the world premiere of a piece dedicated to Hovhaness entitled “Dzon.”

An avid radio amateur and experimenter in radio astronomy, Berkofsky will be broadcasting from the Alan Hovhaness Special Event Station, W1H. Inspired by Hovhaness’ love of astronomy, station W1H will be directing experimental signals to the moon, to be reflected back to distant points on Earth.

For more information about joining the “All Men are Brothers” pilgrimage, contact Martin Berkofsky by calling (540) 788-3356 or emailing hovhanesscentre@yahoo.com. (Keep in mind that the pace will be adjusted to accommodate all wishing to join—for a day, a mile, an hour, or even a few symbolic steps.)

For more information on the dedication of the memorial or the concert, contact the Armenian Cultural Foundation in Arlington by calling (781) 646-3090 or emailing acf.hmh@verizon.net.