ARAM KHATCHATURIAN

Aram Khatchaturian, an Armenian composer, was born in Tiflis in 1903. His music study began late, when he was nineteen, his first important teacher being Gnessin. Subsequent study took place at the Moscow Conservatory with Miaskovsky and Vassilenko. He began composing almost as soon as he had learned the rudiments, and in a few years achieved considerable popularity in the Soviet Union, scoring his first great success with his Symphony, written in 1934, He won the Stalin Prize twice, and was awarded the Order of Lenin.

The music of Katchaturian has been profoundly influenced by the folk songs and dances of Armenia. Kabalevsky wrote: "the especially attractive features of Katchaturian's music are in its rootings in national folk fountainheads. Captivating rhythmic diversity of dances of the peoples of Transcaucasia and inspired improvisations of ashugs(bards)--such are the roots from which have spring the composer's creative endeavors."

David Ewen
Ewen's Musical Masterworks

Best Known Works:

Gayne Ballet, assembled from thirteen folk dances of which the most famous is "Saber Dance".
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Symphony No. 2