Of Armenian and Scottish origins, the American composer Alan Hovhaness was a trend-setting pioneer who absorbed an eclectic variety of archaic and modern influences from East and West. At the heart of his huge output lies a vision of “music for all people … which is beautiful and healing” fuelled by a deep and reverent love for nature. Hovhaness wrote 67 symphonies, from the tonal wind Symphony No. 4, to his spacetravel- inspired Symphony No. 53 ‘Star Dawn’, both featured on this recording.