S:7 E:17 | Inside the Mystical Music of Alan Hovhaness with Bill Holst

What if your stepfather was one of the most misunderstood yet spiritually profound composers of the 20th century—and your mother spent years writing his story? In this episode, Bill Holst shares the extraordinary journey behind Alan Hovhaness: Unveiling One of the Great Composers of the 20th Century, a memoir built from the poetic writings of his late mother and enriched with his own personal reflections. Alan Hovhaness was known for his deeply mystical, culturally diverse compositions, drawing from Armenian roots, Eastern music traditions, and nature itself. Bill shares how Hovhaness faced rejection early in his career—even from names like Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland—yet stayed true to his vision, ultimately creating over 500 pieces of music that defied genres and resonated with artists like Carlos Santana and Ravi Shankar. We dive into the soulful relationship between Bill’s mother and Hovhaness, the spiritual lens through which he viewed life and art, and the thousands of unpublished and rediscovered works that are still being archived today. From midnight storytelling sessions to mysterious reincarnated cats, this conversation uncovers the composer’s otherworldly spirit and the love that defined his final decades. Discover how Bill Holst is carrying forward the legacies of both his mother and Alan Hovhaness—one page, and one note, at a time. #AlanHovhaness #BillHolst #ComposerLegacy #MysticalMusic #BooksThatMakeYou #Memoir