Howard Hanson

Biography

Born: October 28, 1896; Wahoo, NE   Died: February 26, 1981; Rochester, NY  
Howard Hanson was among the first twentieth century American composers to achieve widespread prominence. In contrast to the angular Stravinskian and Americana-influenced sounds that dominated American concert music prior to World War II, Hanson wrote in an unabashedly Romantic idiom influenced by his Nordic roots. Of particular importance to the composer was the music of Sibelius; however, he also acknowledged the influence of composers such as Read more Palestrina and Bach.

After boyhood studies on the piano, Hanson studied music at the Institute of Musical Art in New York City and Northwestern University, where he earned a degree in 1916. In 1921, he became the first American to win the Prix de Rome, which provided him the opportunity to study with Ottorino Respighi, whose colorful orchestral language was clearly an influence on Hanson's own. Upon his return to the United States, Hanson was appointed head of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester at the age of 28. Under the composer's guidance over the course of more than four decades, Eastman became one of the world's preeminent educational institutions. During his tenure there Hanson continued to compose prolifically; he also embarked on a career as a conductor, in which capacity he proved himself one of the great champions of American music. At Eastman, it has been calculated, he presented some 1,500 works by 700 composers. Hanson also commercially recorded a number of modern works in a series for the Mercury label in the 1950s, drawing much attention to otherwise neglected repertoire.

Hanson's most characteristic works are undoubtedly his seven symphonies. The first of these, the "Nordic" Symphony (1922), dates from the composer's studies in Rome. The Second Symphony ("Romantic"), remains Hanson's best-known work, a characteristic realization of the lush, lyric aesthetic with which he is closely associated. Further notable among Hanson's symphonies are the Symphony No. 4 (1943), awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and the Symphony No. 7 (1977), one of a series of works inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman. Other important works in Hanson's catalogue include The Lament for Beowulf (1925) for chorus and orchestra; the opera Merry Mount (1933), well received at its premiere and in subsequent productions, but now rarely performed; and a variety of other chamber, vocal, and orchestral works. Read less

Featured Howard Hanson CDs & DVDs:

Hanson: Symphony No. 2 / Lux Aeterna, Mosaics, Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
Hanson: Symphony No. 2 / Lux Aeterna, Mosaics, Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
Release Date: 10/25/2011   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8559701   Number of Discs: 1
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American Classics - Hanson: Piano Sonata, Etc / Thomas Labé
American Classics - Hanson: Piano Sonata, Etc / Thomas Labé
Release Date: 05/16/2000   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8559047   Number of Discs: 1
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American Classics - Hanson: Orchestral Works Vol 1
American Classics - Hanson: Orchestral Works Vol 1
Release Date: 07/18/2000   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8559072   Number of Discs: 1
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American Classics - Hanson: Organ Concerto, Etc / Spalding
American Classics - Hanson: Organ Concerto, Etc / Spalding
Release Date: 07/25/2006   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8559251   Number of Discs: 1
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Hanson: Symphony No 1, The Lament For Beowulf / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
Hanson: Symphony No 1, The Lament For Beowulf / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
Release Date: 09/27/2011   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8559700   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 1-25 of 73 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    Emblems / Graham, USAF Heritage of America Band
    Emblems / Graham, USAF Heritage of America Band
    Label: Klavier Records   Catalog: 11218 Release Date: 04/21/2017   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jack Stamp,  Vittorio Giannini,  Howard Hanson,  William Schuman  ... 
    Conductor:  Lowell E. Graham
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  USAF Heritage of America Band
    CD: $17.99
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  • 2.
    Earquake: The Loudest Classical Music of All Time / Segerstam, Helsinki Philharmonic
    Earquake: The Loudest Classical Music of All Time / Segerstam, Helsinki Philharmonic
    Label: Ondine   Catalog: 1210 Release Date: 02/17/2017   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Hanson,  Ture Rangström,  Aram Khachaturian,  Sergei Prokofiev  ... 
    Conductor:  Leif Segerstam
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 3.
    America Again / Downes
    America Again / Downes
    Label: Sono Luminus   Catalog: 92207 Release Date: 10/28/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Morton Gould,  Lou Harrison,  Traditional,  Amy Marcy Beach  ... 
    Performer:  Lara Downes
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  • 4.
    American Psalmody of the 20th Century / Gloriae Dei Cantores
    American Psalmody of the 20th Century / Gloriae Dei Cantores
    Label: Paraclete Recordings   Catalog: 8299 Release Date: 09/30/2016   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Samuel Adler,  Charles Ives,  Alan Hovhaness,  Daniel Pinkham  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Gloria Dei Cantores Schola Choir
    CD: $39.99
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  • 5.
    Mercury Living Presence - The Collector's Edition Vol 3
    Mercury Living Presence - The Collector's Edition Vol 3
    Label: Mercury Living Presence   Catalog: 002275902 Release Date: 03/23/2015   Number of Discs: 53
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Lehár,  Emil Waldteufel,  Johann Strauss Jr.  ... 
    Performer:  Rafael Druian,  Georges Miquelle,  Eugene List,  Alfred Mouledous  ... 
    Conductor:  Antal Doráti,  Stanislaw Skrowaczewski,  Frederick Fennell,  Anatole Fistoulari  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra,  Philharmonia Hungarica  ... 
    CD: $213.99
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  • 6.
    American Album for Flute / Jennifer Stinton
    American Album for Flute / Jennifer Stinton
    Label: Musical Concepts   Catalog: 153 Release Date: 01/20/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Robert Muczynski,  Kent Kennan,  Howard Hanson,  Aaron Copland  ... 
    Performer:  Jennifer Stinton,  Malcolm Martineau
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  • 7.
    Playing New York / Paula Robison, Steven Beck
    Playing New York / Paula Robison, Steven Beck
    Label: Pergola   Catalog: 1039 Release Date: 10/14/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Zez Confrey,  Eldin Burton,  Charles Tomlinson Griffes,  Leonard Bernstein  ... 
    Performer:  Paula Robison,  Steven Beck
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  • 8.
    The Malcolm Smith Memorial Album
    The Malcolm Smith Memorial Album
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 571354 Release Date: 10/14/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Robin Holloway,  Howard Hanson,  Robert Matthew-Walker,  George Frideric Handel  ... 
    Performer:  Leslie Howard,  John Lill,  Mark Bebbington,  Julian Jacobson
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  • 9.
    American Piano Sonatas / Watkins
    American Piano Sonatas / Watkins
    Label: Cd Baby   Catalog: 5638335745 Release Date: 09/14/2014  
    Composer:  Howard Hanson,  William Schirmer,  Carlisle Floyd
    Performer:  Scott Watkins
    CD: $29.99
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  • 10.
    The Complete Nashville Symphony Recordings / Schermerhorn
    The Complete Nashville Symphony Recordings / Schermerhorn
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 501108 Release Date: 09/02/2014   Number of Discs: 11
    Composer:  Heitor Villa-Lobos,  Morton Gould,  Elliott Carter,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  José Feghali,  Rosana Lamosa,  Mark Wait,  Lori Phillips  ... 
    Conductor:  Kenneth Schermerhorn
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Nashville Symphony Orchestra,  Nashville Symphony Chorus
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  • 11.
    Mercury Living Presence - The Collector's Edition Vol 2
    Mercury Living Presence - The Collector's Edition Vol 2
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001831802 Release Date: 06/04/2013   Number of Discs: 55
    Composer:  Arnold Schoenberg,  Anton Webern,  Alban Berg,  Ottorino Respighi  ... 
    Performer:  Helga Pilarczyk,  Yehudi Menuhin,  Mihaly Székely,  Olga Szönyi  ... 
    Conductor:  Antal Doráti,  Rafael Kubelik,  Anatole Fistoulari,  Frederick Fennell  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra,  Philharmonia Hungarica  ... 
    CD: $181.49
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  • 12.
    40 Tracks for 40 Years - Delos Anniversary Set
    40 Tracks for 40 Years - Delos Anniversary Set
    Label: Delos   Catalog: 3440 Release Date: 04/30/2013   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Dmitri Shostakovich,  Antonín Dvorák,  Aram Khachaturian,  Erich Wolfgang Korngold  ... 
    Performer:  James Earl Jones,  Charles Butler,  Marina Domashenko,  Dmitri Hvorostovsky  ... 
    Conductor:  Andrew Litton,  Zdenek Macal,  Constantine Orbelian,  James DePreist  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Dallas Symphony Orchestra,  New Jersey Symphony Orchestra,  Moscow Chamber Orchestra  ... 
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  • 13.
    American Anthem / Ying Quartet
    American Anthem / Ying Quartet
    Label: Sono Luminus   Catalog: 92166 Release Date: 03/26/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Samuel Barber,  Howard Hanson,  Randall Thompson
    Performer:  Randall Scarlata,  Adam Neiman
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ying String Quartet
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  • 14.
    Alla Marcia / Chevallard, United States Air Force Band Of The Golden Gate
    Alla Marcia / Chevallard, United States Air Force Band Of The Golden Gate
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: 70262 Release Date: 06/26/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Hanson,  John Philip Sousa,  Jean Sibelius,  Johann Strauss Sr.  ... 
    Conductor:  Philip C. Chevallard
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Air Force Band Of The Golden Gate
    CD: $17.99
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  • 15.
    Essential American Classics
    Essential American Classics
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 27851 Release Date: 06/05/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Louis Moreau Gottschalk,  Stephen Foster,  Edward MacDowell,  Scott Joplin  ... 
    Performer:  Leonard Pennario,  Salli Terri,  Matt Glaser,  Thomas Hampson  ... 
    Conductor:  Simon Rattle,  Leonard Slatkin,  Neil Richardson,  John McGlinn  ... 
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  • 16.
    Not Sousa Vol 4 / United States Military Bands
    Not Sousa Vol 4 / United States Military Bands
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: 56042 Release Date: 05/29/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  William Paris Chambers,  Adolphe Sellenick,  Morton Gould,  Howard Hanson  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Air Force Band,  United States Marine Band,  United States Naval Academy Band  ... 
    CD: $17.99
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  • 17.
    Songs Of Democracy / United States Air Force Band & Singing Sergeants
    Songs Of Democracy / United States Air Force Band & Singing Sergeants
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: 60282 Release Date: 03/27/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Larry Mactaggart,  Larry Grossman,  Lee Greenwood,  Woody Guthrie  ... 
    Performer:  David Farwig,  Richard Pearson,  David L. Nokes,  Donna Abraira  ... 
    Conductor:  Lowell E. Graham
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Air Force Band,  United States Air Force Singing Sergeants
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  • 18.
    Stravinsky, Hindemith, Hartmann, Hanson, Harris & Hovhaness / Stokowski
    Stravinsky, Hindemith, Hartmann, Hanson, Harris & Hovhaness / Stokowski
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 2379 Release Date: 03/13/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Igor Stravinsky,  Howard Hanson,  Roy Harris,  Paul Hindemith  ... 
    Conductor:  Leopold Stokowski
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  NBC Symphony Orchestra,  St. Louis Symphony Orchestra,  West German Radio Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 19.
    Hanson: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Hanson: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8559704 Release Date: 01/31/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Hanson
    Conductor:  Gerard Schwarz
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Seattle Symphony Orchestra,  Seattle Symphony Chorus
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  • 20.
    Hanson: Symphonies 4 & 5, Elegy In Memory Of Serge / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Hanson: Symphonies 4 & 5, Elegy In Memory Of Serge / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8559703 Release Date: 12/13/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Hanson
    Conductor:  Gerard Schwarz
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Seattle Symphony Orchestra
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  • 21.
    Hanson: Symphony No 3, Merry Mount Suite / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Hanson: Symphony No 3, Merry Mount Suite / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8559702 Release Date: 11/15/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Hanson
    Conductor:  Gerard Schwarz
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Seattle Symphony Orchestra
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  • 22.
    Hanson: Symphony No. 2 / Lux Aeterna, Mosaics, Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Hanson: Symphony No. 2 / Lux Aeterna, Mosaics, Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8559701 Release Date: 10/25/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Hanson
    Conductor:  Gerard Schwarz
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Seattle Symphony Orchestra
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  • 23.
    Hanson: Symphony No 1, The Lament For Beowulf / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Hanson: Symphony No 1, The Lament For Beowulf / Schwarz, Seattle Symphony
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8559700 Release Date: 09/27/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Hanson
    Conductor:  Gerard Schwarz
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Seattle Symphony Orchestra
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  • 24.
    Debut
    Debut
    Label: Dreambox Media   Catalog: 5637634580 Release Date: 06/15/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Charles-Marie Widor,  Reinhold Gliere,  Howard Hanson,  Frank Martin  ... 
    Performer:  Brian Gilmore,  Inna Gilmore
    CD: $14.99
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  • 25.
    Mandorla: Choral Masterworks of Martin, Grieg & Hanson / Patterson, Gloriae Dei Cantores
    Mandorla: Choral Masterworks of Martin, Grieg & Hanson / Patterson, Gloriae Dei Cantores
    Label: Paraclete Recordings   Catalog: 48 Release Date: 05/11/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frank Martin,  Edvard Grieg,  Howard Hanson
    Performer:  Wayne Schuman,  James Jordan
    Conductor:  Elizabeth C. Patterson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Gloriae Dei Cantores
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