Symphony No. 50 , Op. 360 , '' Mount St. Helens '' is a three-movement orchestral composition by the American composer Alan Hovhaness . The symphony was commissioned by former Hovhaness publisher C.F. Peters and was completed January 24 , 1982 . It premiered March 2 , 1984 , and was performed by the San Jose Symphony under conductor George Cleve . The piece commemorates the volcano Mount St. Helens , culminating in the events of its 1980 eruption , which Hovhaness had witnessed from his Seattle home
1980 eruption
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Symphony No. 50 (Hovhaness)