High school (classes: T. Leschetizky and H. Gebhard)

1929 – Entered Tufts University (prof: L. Lewis), then the New England conservatory of music in Boston (prof: F. Converse)

1934 – Went to Finland to study with J. Sibelius

Established himself as an organist and began serving at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown.

1940s – founded an orchestra, conducted it, and performed his Armenian compositions.

Operas:

“Etchmiadzin” (ор. 62, 1946)

“The Burning House” (ор. 185, 1960)

“Spirit of the Avalanche” (ор. 197, 1962)

“Pilate” (ор. 199, 1963)

“The Travellers” (ор. 215, 1965)

“Pericles” by Shakespeare’s play (ор. 283, 1975)

”Tale of the Sun Goddess Going into the Stone House” (ор. 323, 1978)

Ballets and dance dramas:

“Circe” (ор. 204, 1964)

The Leper King (ор. 219, 1965)

“A Rose for Miss Emily” (ор. 229 No. 2, 1970)

“Dream of a Myth” (ор. 260, 1973)

“God, the Reveller” (ор. 408, 1987)

Operettas:

“Afton Water” – by W. Saroyan’s play (op. 248, 1951)

“The Frog Man” (ор. 407, 1987)

67 Symphonies, which of them:

№ 14 – “Ararat”, for wind orchestra (op. 194, 1960)

№ 21 – “Etchmiadzin”, for chamber orchestra (op. 234, 1968)

№ 23 – ”Ani”, for big wind orchestra and wind orchestra “Ad libitum” (op. 249, 1972)

№ 25 – ”Odysseus” (op. 275, 1973)

№ 48 – “Vision of Andromeda” (op. 355, 1981)

№ 49 – “Christmas”, for string orchestra (op. 356, 1981)

№ 52 – “Journey to Vega” (op. 372, 1983)

№ 60 – “To the Appalachian Mountains” (op. 396, 1985)

№ 65 – “Artsakh” (op. 427, 1991)

Chamber:

Piano trio (ор. 3, 1935)

Sonata for violin and piano (ор. 11, 1937)

Prelude and fugue for oboe (or flute) and bassoon (ор. 13, 1935)

Suite for corno inglese and bassoon (ор. 21, 1933)

“Lament” for solo clarinetto (ор. 25, 1935)

“Invocations to Vahakn” for piano and percussion (ор. 54, № 1, 1945)

“Chahagir” for solo alto (ор. 56, № 1, 1944)

“Upon Enchanted Ground” for flute, cello, harp and tam-tam (ор. 90, № 1, 1951)

Duet for violin and harpsichord (ор. 122, 1957)

Sonata for 2 oboes and organ (ор. 130, 1963-1964)

Quintet for wind instruments (ор. 159, 1960)

“Nagooran” for cello and percussion (ор. 237, № 2, 1964)

Sonata for 2 clarinets (ор. 297, 1977)

Sonata for clarinetto and harpsichord (ор. 322, 1978)

Trio for 3 saxophones (ор. 331, 1979)

Sonata for alto-blockflute and harpsichord (ор. 387, 1984)

Sonata for flute and harp (ор. 406, 1987)

Duet for violin and cello (ор. 409, 1987)

2 sonatas for trumpet and organ:

№ 1 (ор. 200, 1962)

№ 2 (ор. 349, 1981)

2 string trios:

№ 1 (ор. 201, 1962)

№ 2 (ор. 403, 1986)

5 string quartets:

№ 1 (ор. 8, 1936)

№ 2 (ор. 147, 1950)

№ 3 (op. 208 № 1, 1968)

№ 4, (op. 208 № 2, 1970)

№ 5, (ор. 287, 1976)

2 piano quintets:

№ 1 (ор. 9, 1926)

№ 2 (ор. 109, 1964)

For keysboard:

3 preludes and fugue for piano (ор. 10, 1935)

“Sonata ricercare” for piano (ор. 12, 1935)

Fantasy for piano (ор. 16, 1952)

“Mystic Flute” for piano (ор. 22, 1937)

“2 Ghazals” for piano (ор. 36, 1933)

“12 Armenian folk songs” для фортепиано (ор. 43, 1943)

“Jhala” for piano (ор. 103, 1951)

Sonatine for piano (ор. 120, 1962)

“Dawn Hymn” for organ (ор. 138, 1953)

“Lake of Van”, sonata for piano (ор. 175, 1946)

“Madras”, sonata for piano (ор. 176, 1947)

“Shalimar”, suite for piano (ор. 177, 1950)

“Bardo”, sonata for piano (ор. 192, 1959)

“5 Visionary Landscapes” sonata for piano (ор. 214, 1965)

Sonatine for organ (ор. 382, 1983)

Sonata for piano (ор. 399, 1986)

“Consolation” sonata for piano (ор. 419, 1989)

“Habakkuk” sonata for organ (ор. 434, 1995)

1965 – Visited Armenia, where he stayed briefly. After meeting with his colleagues, he dedicated his works to them. Little information about his stay in Armenia remains in state archives.

1991 – Alan Hovhannes’s 80th birthday was celebrated with great fanfare at Carnegie Hall, during which the world premiere of his then newly written 65th Symphony, “Artsakh”, took place under the Maestro’s conduction.

1960s and 1970s – recognized as the most recorded composer in America.

1977 – The American Academy of Arts and Literature elected him an honorary member for his musical achievements.