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Khachaturian

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Born / died

1920-2011

Movement

20th-century classical

Location

Born in Moscow

Friends / contemporaries

Alexander Melnikov, Alexander Vedernikov, Gidon Kremer +3 more

Although he was indicted (along with Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and a number of other prominent Soviet musicians) for "formalism," in the infamous Zhdanov decree of 1948, Aram Khachaturian was, for most of his long career, one of the Soviet musical establishment's most prized representatives.Spotify

Born into an Armenian family, in Tbilisi, in 1903, Khachaturian's musical identity formed slowly, and, although a tuba player in his school band and a self-taught pianist, he wanted to be a biologist, and did not study music formally until entering Moscow's Gnesin Music Academy (as a cellist) in 1922. His considerable musical talents soon manifested themselves, and by 1925 he was studying composition privately with Gnesin himself.Spotify

In 1929, Khachaturian joined Miaskovsky's composition class at the Moscow Conservatory. Khachaturian graduated in 1934, and before the completion, in 1937, of his postgraduate studies, the successful premieres of such works as the Symphony No. 2 in A Minor "With a Bell" (1935) and, especially, the Piano Concerto in D flat Major (1936) established Khachaturian as the leading Soviet composer of his generation.Spotify

During the vicious government-sponsored attacks, in 1948, on the Soviet Composers' Union (in which Khachaturian, an active member since 1937, also held an administrative function) Khachaturian took a great deal of criticism. However, although he was officially censured for employing modernistic, politically incorrect musical techniques which fostered an "anti-people art," Khachaturian's music contained few, if any, of the objectionable traits found in the music of some of his more adventuresome colleagues. In retrospect, it was most likely Khachaturian's administrative role in the Union, perceived by the government as a bastion of politically incorrect music, and not his music as such, which earned him a place on the black list of 1948.Spotify

Nevertheless, Khachaturian made a very full and humble apology for his artistic "errors" following the Zhdanov decree; his musical style, however, underwent no changes. Khachaturian joined the composition faculty of the Moscow Conservatory and the Gnesin Academy in 1950, and that same year he made his debut as a conductor. During the years until his death in 1978 Khachaturian made frequent European conducting appearances, and in January of 1968 he made a culturally significant trip to Washington, D.C., conducting the National Symphony Orchestra in a program of his own works.Spotify

Khachaturian's characteristic musical style draws on the melodic and rhythmic vitality of Armenian folk music. Although not adverse to sharp dissonance, Khachaturian never strayed from a basically diatonic musical language. The Piano Concerto and the Violin Concerto in D Minor are truly Romantic works, virtuosic, clear, and unaffectedly expressive, remaining therefore popular and frequently performed composition.Spotify

Of course, many neither of these works matches the popularity of the famous "Sabre Dance" from the ballet Gayane, which made Khachaturian a household name during World War II. His other works include film scores, songs, piano pieces, and chamber music. The degree of Khachaturian's success as a Soviet composer can be measured by his many honors, which include the 1941 Lenin Prize, for the Violin Concerto, the 1959 Stalin Prize, for the ballet Spartacus, and the title, awarded in 1954, of People's Artist.Spotify

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role: unknown · 20%era: Modernmovement: 20th-century classical1920–2011

Movement

20th-century classical · Wikipedia

20th-century classical music is Western art music that was written between 1901 and 2000, inclusive. Musical style diverged during the 20th century as it never had previously, so this century was without a dominant style. Modernism, impressionism, and post-romanticism can all be traced to the decades before the turn of the 20th century, but can be included because they evolved beyond the musical boundaries of the 19th-century styles that were part of the earlier common practice period. Neoclassicism and expressionism came mostly after 1900. Minimalism started later in the century and can be seen as a change from the modern to postmodern era, although some date postmodernism from as early as about 1930. Aleatory, atonality, serialism, musique concrète, and electronic music were all developed during the century. Jazz and ethnic folk music became important influences on many composers during this century.

How this movement sounds

new harmoniesnew rhythmsneoclassicismatonalityminimalismsharp contrasts

20th-century classical listening cues: variety and experimentation. Some music keeps older forms (neoclassicism) but with sharper harmonies, leaner textures, and motoric rhythms.

Other strands move toward atonality (no clear tonal center) or explore new scales and sonorities; rhythm can become more complex, more mechanical, or more jagged.

Timbre and texture are often treated as structural elements: changes in sound color can function like 'harmonic' events.

A practical way to listen: instead of expecting a 'tune', track motives (tiny cells), rhythm, and register. Modern pieces often build form by transforming small units rather than by long melodies.

Minimalism is another common thread: repetition, gradual change, and a focus on pulse and process over long spans.

How Khachaturian sounds

new harmonyrhythmic bitecolor & textureminimal patternsextended techniques

Modern/contemporary music varies wildly, but you will often hear experimentation with harmony, rhythm, and sound color as primary material.

Some strands emphasize rhythmic bite and sharp contrasts; others explore timbre and atmosphere; minimalism builds from repeating patterns and gradual change.

If the music feels less about singable melody and more about texture, pulse, or color, you are probably hearing a modern idiom.

Wikipedia

Karen Surenovich Khachaturian (Russian: Карэн Суренович Хачатурян, Armenian: Կարեն Խաչատրյան; 19 September 1920 – 19 July 2011) was a Soviet and Russian composer of Armenian ethnicity, the nephew of composer Aram Khachaturian.Wikipedia

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