Khachaturian, Aram Ilich, << `kah` chuh TOOR ee uhn, ah RAHM ihl YEECH >> (1903-1978), was an important Soviet composer. His music successfully accommodates folk materials from the Caucasus Mountains region in Europe and Asia with conservative elements in Russian nationalist music of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It is distinguished by strong rhythms and lyrical melodies.
One of Khachaturian’s most successful works is the ballet Gayane (1942, revised 1957). Its colorful score accompanies scenes from life in an Armenian village and contains the “Sabre Dance,” his best-known composition. Khachaturian arranged a number of orchestral suites from the music of Gayane and the ballet Spartacus (1956, revised 1968). He also wrote three symphonies, three concerto-rhapsodies, a piano concerto, a violin concerto, motion-picture scores, and chamber music. He was born on June 6, 1903, near Tiflis (now Tbilisi), Georgia. He died on May 1, 1978.
