Karen Khachaturian
Encyclopedia
Karen Surenovich Khachaturian, (September 19, 1920July 19, 2011) was a Soviet and Russian composer of Armenian ethnicity and the nephew of composer Aram Khachaturian
.
Khachaturian was born in Moscow
, the son of Suren Khachaturian, a theatrical director. He studied under Genrikh Litinsky at the Moscow Conservatory
were interrupted by a term of duty in the entertainment division of the Red Army
. Resuming his studies in 1945, he worked with Dmitri Shostakovich
and Nikolai Myaskovsky
.
In addition to the Violin Sonata (1947), his works include a Cello Sonata (1966), a String Quartet (1969), four symphonies (1955, 1968, 1982, 1991) and a ballet, Cipollino (1973), as well as various other orchestral works and music for the theater.
Rhythmic drive and a careful and idiomatic use of his instrumental forces characterize his compositions. He adopted a primarily tonal
approach to composition
. His works have been recorded by some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including David Oistrakh
, Jascha Heifetz
, Mstislav Rostropovich
, and Vladimir Yampolsky
.
... aka 100 грамм для храбрости (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Edinstvennaya doroga (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Strange People (International: English title: informal literal title)
... aka Вий (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Viy or Spirit of Evil (USA: DVD title)
... aka A Pistol Shot
... aka Семь нянек (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Високосный год (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Leap Year
... aka The Great Road
... aka Velká cesta (Czechoslovakia)
... aka Ждите писем (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Wait for Letters (International: English title: informal literal title)
... aka The Yellow Stork (International: English title)
, 4th class (2007), the Order of Honour (Russian Federation) (2000) and the Order of Friendship
(1995). He was awarded the title Peoples Artist of the RSFSR
(1981) and the USSR State Prize
(1976, for the ballet "Cipollino") and the Russian Federation State Prize (2001). He also received the Diploma of the Russian Federation President (March 6, 2011 - for great contribution to the development of national culture and the many years of creative activity) and the Moscow City Hall prize (1999).
Aram Khachaturian
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian was a prominent Soviet composer. Khachaturian's works were often influenced by classical Russian music and Armenian folk music...
.
Khachaturian was born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, the son of Suren Khachaturian, a theatrical director. He studied under Genrikh Litinsky at 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...
were interrupted by a term of duty in the entertainment division of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. Resuming his studies in 1945, he worked with Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
and Nikolai Myaskovsky
Nikolai Myaskovsky
Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky was a Russian and Soviet composer. He is sometimes referred to as the "father of the Soviet symphony".-Early years and first important works:...
.
In addition to the Violin Sonata (1947), his works include a Cello Sonata (1966), a String Quartet (1969), four symphonies (1955, 1968, 1982, 1991) and a ballet, Cipollino (1973), as well as various other orchestral works and music for the theater.
Rhythmic drive and a careful and idiomatic use of his instrumental forces characterize his compositions. He adopted a primarily tonal
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
approach to composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
. His works have been recorded by some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including David Oistrakh
David Oistrakh
David Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....
, Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
, Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
, and Vladimir Yampolsky
Vladimir Yampolsky
Vladimir Yampolsky was a Russian pianist who served as David Oistrakh's accompanist in several recordings.- External Links :*...
.
Works
- String trioString trioA string trio is a group of three string instruments or a piece written for such a group. The term is generally used with reference to works of chamber music from the Classical period to the present.-History:...
for violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, and celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is... - SonataSonataSonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
, in G minor, Op. 1 composed in 1947. (for Leonid Kogan) - recorded by J. Heifetz and L. Steuber for RCA Victor Gold in 1966. n. of disc is - (GD87872) - CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Sonata, dedicated to Mstislav RostropovichMstislav RostropovichMstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
. First performed January 10, 1967 - Previous National Anthems of Somali (1972) and Zanzibar (1964)
Film Scores
- 100 gramm dlya khrabrosti (1976)
... aka 100 грамм для храбрости (Soviet Union: Russian title)
- Okovani soferi (1975)
... aka Edinstvennaya doroga (Soviet Union: Russian title)
- Strannye lyudi (1969)
... aka Strange People (International: English title: informal literal title)
- Viy (1967)
... aka Вий (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Viy or Spirit of Evil (USA: DVD title)
- Vystrel (1966)
... aka A Pistol Shot
- Sem nyanek (1962)
... aka Семь нянек (Soviet Union: Russian title)
- Visokosnyy god (1962)
... aka Високосный год (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Leap Year
- Bolshaya doroga (1962)
... aka The Great Road
... aka Velká cesta (Czechoslovakia)
- Zhdite pisem (1960)
... aka Ждите писем (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Wait for Letters (International: English title: informal literal title)
- Kogda zazhigayutsya yolki (1950)
- Zheltyy aist (1950)
... aka The Yellow Stork (International: English title)
Awards
Khachaturian was awarded the Order of Merit for the FatherlandOrder of Merit for the Fatherland
The Order of Merit for the Fatherland was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree. The statutes describe it as a decoration for merit, not an order of knights....
, 4th class (2007), the Order of Honour (Russian Federation) (2000) and the Order of Friendship
Order of Friendship
The Order of Friendship is a state decoration of Russia established by decree # 442 of March 2, 1994 of the President of the Russian Federation....
(1995). He was awarded the title Peoples Artist of the RSFSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
(1981) and 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....
(1976, for the ballet "Cipollino") and the Russian Federation State Prize (2001). He also received the Diploma of the Russian Federation President (March 6, 2011 - for great contribution to the development of national culture and the many years of creative activity) and the Moscow City Hall prize (1999).