Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain & Lousadzak / Lou Harrison: Elegiac Symphony (Musicmasters)

Harrison is a true American original. During his long life, he's worked as a journalist, florist, calligrapher, dancer, and much else besides. He's one of several California based composers who looked to Oriental music for inspiration, and he's studied both Japanese and Korean traditional music. His symphony shows all of these inspirations, as well as his love of beautiful sounds, plangent melodies, exotic percussion sonorities, and structural simplicity. If you don't know his music, then you should acquire this disc, the Piano Concerto (also performed by Keith Jarrett), and the ballet Solstice without delay. You're in for a major treat. --David Hurwitz