ADRIAN Vernon Fish gave the third in his series of musical talks recently. His subject on this occasion was Alan Hovhaness, and in particular his ninth symphony.

Alan Hovhaness is not a very well known composer in this country, though he is much better known in America. His output was prodigious, despite having destroyed all that he had written in the 1940s.

We were given an entertaining account of his life and the influences on him, then attention was turned to his ninth symphony and its 24 short movements. The movements are very varied: a prayer, a hymn, several dances, and one very stark lament.

Mr Fish is obviously knowledgeable about the work, and this came over to his audience, so that when the symphony was played we could recognise the use made of trumpet or trombone, notice the part played by timpani and percussion, recognise at least some of the different influences on the composer.

As Mr Hovhaness was part Scottish, part Armenian, and lived much of his life in America, these influences were wide.

This was a fascinating evening,with a delightful blend of information and music, introducing us to a composer of whom many of us knew very little.