Armenian Mighty Handful
Encyclopedia
The Armenian Mighty Handful , refers to a circle of Soviet Armenian classical music
composers. It consisted of 5 persons born in 1920-1921, studied at Yerevan State Conservatory and in mid-1940s entered to the Moscow Conservatory
and the Armenian Cultural Studio's courses. Among the main professors and supporters of their studies were Aram Khachaturian
and Dmitry Shostakovich. Four members of the group were awarded by the People's Artist of USSR highest title, Alexander Arutiunian
and Arno Babajanian
were also awarded by the USSR State Prize
in their young ages.
The oldest and leading member of the group is Alexander Arutiunian
. In 1950 among with Babajanian he composed the "Armenian rhapsody" and jointly performed it on two pianos. Another example of cooperation within the group was the soundtrack of popular "The Song of First Love" film by "Armenfilm" composed by Arno Babajanian
and Lazar Sarian
. Many of the songs became all-time hits in Armenia
.
The group's art was an important event for the Armenian culture and influenced younger Armenian composers. According to Sahan Arzruni
, "in the music world, they established the Armenian musical school".
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
composers. It consisted of 5 persons born in 1920-1921, studied at Yerevan State Conservatory and in mid-1940s entered to the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
and the Armenian Cultural Studio's courses. Among the main professors and supporters of their studies were Aram Khachaturian
Aram Khachaturian
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian was a prominent Soviet composer. Khachaturian's works were often influenced by classical Russian music and Armenian folk music...
and Dmitry Shostakovich. Four members of the group were awarded by the People's Artist of USSR highest title, Alexander Arutiunian
Alexander Arutiunian
Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian , also known as Arutunian, Arutyunyan, Arutjunjan or Harutiunian Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian (Arm. Ալեքսանդր Գրիգորի Հարությունյան), also known as Arutunian, Arutyunyan, Arutjunjan or Harutiunian Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian (Arm. Ալեքսանդր Գրիգորի...
and Arno Babajanian
Arno Babajanian
Arno Harutyuni Babajanian was a Soviet Armenian composer and pianist, People's Artist of the Armenian SSR and Soviet Union . He was a laureate of two Stalin State Prizes of the USSR and two Armenian SSR State Prizes ....
were also awarded by the USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
in their young ages.
The oldest and leading member of the group is Alexander Arutiunian
Alexander Arutiunian
Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian , also known as Arutunian, Arutyunyan, Arutjunjan or Harutiunian Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian (Arm. Ալեքսանդր Գրիգորի Հարությունյան), also known as Arutunian, Arutyunyan, Arutjunjan or Harutiunian Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian (Arm. Ալեքսանդր Գրիգորի...
. In 1950 among with Babajanian he composed the "Armenian rhapsody" and jointly performed it on two pianos. Another example of cooperation within the group was the soundtrack of popular "The Song of First Love" film by "Armenfilm" composed by Arno Babajanian
Arno Babajanian
Arno Harutyuni Babajanian was a Soviet Armenian composer and pianist, People's Artist of the Armenian SSR and Soviet Union . He was a laureate of two Stalin State Prizes of the USSR and two Armenian SSR State Prizes ....
and Lazar Sarian
Lazar Sarian
Ghazaros Saryan was an Armenian composer and educator.Ghazaros Saryan was born into a family of distinguished Armenian artists. He is the son of renowned painter Martiros Saryan and the grandson of the prominent writer Ghazaros Aghayan...
. Many of the songs became all-time hits in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
The group's art was an important event for the Armenian culture and influenced younger Armenian composers. According to Sahan Arzruni
Sahan Arzruni
Şahan Arzruni is an Armenian pianist, composer, ethnomusicologist, lecturer, writer and producer.Arzruni was born in Istanbul, Turkey, whose family name belongs to an ancient Armenian dynasty...
, "in the music world, they established the Armenian musical school".
Members
- Alexander ArutiunianAlexander ArutiunianAlexander Grigorevich Arutiunian , also known as Arutunian, Arutyunyan, Arutjunjan or Harutiunian Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian (Arm. Ալեքսանդր Գրիգորի Հարությունյան), also known as Arutunian, Arutyunyan, Arutjunjan or Harutiunian Alexander Grigorevich Arutiunian (Arm. Ալեքսանդր Գրիգորի...
- Arno BabajanianArno BabajanianArno Harutyuni Babajanian was a Soviet Armenian composer and pianist, People's Artist of the Armenian SSR and Soviet Union . He was a laureate of two Stalin State Prizes of the USSR and two Armenian SSR State Prizes ....
- Edvard MirzoyanEdvard MirzoyanEdvard Mirzoyan , is an Armenian composer.Mirzoyan was born in Gori, Georgia. Initially schooled in music in Yerevan and graduated from the Komitas State Conservatory, Mirzoyan went on to Moscow to further refine his art. In late 1956 he was elected president of the Armenian Composers’ Union, a...
- Lazar SarianLazar SarianGhazaros Saryan was an Armenian composer and educator.Ghazaros Saryan was born into a family of distinguished Armenian artists. He is the son of renowned painter Martiros Saryan and the grandson of the prominent writer Ghazaros Aghayan...
- Adam KhudoyanAdam KhudoyanAdam Geghami Khudoyan was an Armenian composer, awarded by the Renowned Activist of the Arts of Armenia official title.He finished the Yerevan State Conservatory in 1945. He directed the Composer's House of Armenia, was the secretary of the Composer's Union of Armenia. Khudoyan composed three...
Links
- Armenian Rhapsody, by Alexander Arutiunian and Arno Babajanian
- My Yerevan from "The Song of First Love" film
Sources
- Soviet Armenia, encyclopedia, ed. by V. Arzumanyan, Yerevan, 1987, p. 585
- Карине Тер-Саакян, Музыкант от Бога, Ноев Ковчег, N 09, 2006
- Soviet Literature, International Union of Revolutionary Writers, 1966, p. 197