Join host Paul von Wichert Sunday afternoon @ 3 PM  for the world radio broadcast premiere of Alan Hovhaness' 1972 composition "Seven Love Songs of Saris" for violin and piano.

Courtesy of OgreOgress productions, from an upcoming release of Hovhaness' music, we will hear violinist Christina Fong and pianist Paul Hersey perform these seven short movements named after the Pre-Christian Armenian god of fertility, love, power and war.

This suite was composed in memory of Siranoush der Manuelian, female conductor of the Armenian National Choral Society of Boston. Along with the better known Ajemian sisters Maro and Anahid, Manuelian played a part in putting Hovhaness on the musical map of 1940s Boston.

The melodic and modal traits of these seven fleeting movements betray an assortment of exotic influences, primarily Armenian, especially the lamenting seventh movement.

Other Armenian composers featured in this hour will be Aram Khachaturian, Alexander Spendiaryan, Haro Stepanian and Komitas Vardapet.

Tune in to Sunday Classics right after the 3PM news---Only on Classic 107.