LE CHANT DU MONDE-WISE MUSIC GROUP
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INTRODUCTION
“My aim in music is to show the melodic and rhythmical richness of Armenian music using European compositional technique.”
Aram Khachaturian wrote in the late 1920s of his hopes as a young composer Inevitably these aspirations to a large extend determined his compositional development. His music, especially his spicily harmonized yet melodically attractive early works, reflects his experiences growing up in Tiflis, exposed as he was to street-performing musicians whose dances and songs were built from ornamented melodies of a modal or folk character and usually ‘developed’ through improvisatory means rather than in the manner of a clas
“He ploughed up layers of the musica and, using the professional music, originality, thorough with traits of genuine
BIOGRAPHY
Aram Khachaturian (1903–1978), born in Tiflis (now Tbilisi, Georgia) and relocated to Moscow in 1921, began his formal musical education relatively late He studied the cello and composition at the Gnesin Institute and subsequently at the Moscow Conservatory, where he was a pupil of Nikolai Myaskovsky
Khachaturian’s style rapidly developed, characterized by lush and an elemental rhythmic drive positioning him as one of the most successful Soviet composers of ergei Prokofiev
ture compositional output tly features major concertos, he Piano Concerto (1936) and Concerto (1940), which are hed by their technical virtuosity
rian's international renown is derived from his substantial ores. The ballet Gayaneh, set ollective farm, yielded the y famous Sabre Dance and brilliant harmonic palette.
His final and most expansive ballet, Spartacus, is regarded as a masterpiece, particularly for the enduring popularity of its Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia. A highly prominent figure in the Soviet musical establishment, Khachaturian served in key administrative roles.
Despite receiving official censure for "formalism" in 1948 alongside Prokofiev and Shostakovich, a decree he later publicly condemned, he continued to enjoy state accolades, serving as a professor at both the Moscow Conservatory and the Gnesin Institute and conducting widely His work remains a testament to the successful integration of regional folk traditions into the global classical repertoire
BALLETS&SUITES
Masquerade Suite
2(pic) 2 2 2/4 2 3 1/timp perc/str
Aram Khachaturian's Masquerade Suite is a vibrant orchestral work adapted from his incidental music for Mikhail Lermontov's four-act drama. The original music premiered on June 21, 1941, at the Vakhtangov State Dramatic Theatre in Moscow. It is best known for its melancholic yet captivating Waltz. The Waltz's description as "melancholic" reflects its dual nature, capturing the danceable passion and romantic drama of Lermontov's tragic play, while hinting at the underlying sadness and tension of the plot
SYMPHONIES&CONCERTOS
Aram Khachaturian left an indelible mark on the concerto and symphony genres, beautifully integrating Armenian melodies into classical structures His Piano Concerto (1936) and Violin Concerto (1940) are masterpieces of virtuosity The slow movement of the Piano Concerto is notable for its atmospheric use of the rare instrument known as the flexatone His Symphony No 2 (1943) on the theme of war, reflect a dramatic national context
SOLO&CHAMBERMUSIC
Aram Khachaturian's solo and chamber works are essential to understanding his early style, providing intimate showcases for his integration of folk material For solo piano, the Toccata (1932), though originally the first movement of a little-known suite, became an immediate and enduring favourite among pianists It is a brilliant, percussive showpiece that effectively merges Baroque structure with the driving rhythms and modal flavours of Armenian folk music In the realm of chamber music, his early works also garnered attention, notably the Trio for clarinet, violin and piano (1932), which drew the admiration of Sergei Prokofiev Khachaturian’s later works for solo instruments, such as the contemplative Sonata-Monologue for Violin Solo (1975), demonstrate a lifelong commitment to showcasing the improvisational expressiveness and unique temperament of Armenian melodies in smaller settings.
LE CHANT DU MONDE-WISE MUSIC GROUP
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