Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (Armenian: Արամ Խաչատրյան; Russian: Аpaм Ильич Xaч… Read Full Bio ↴Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (Armenian: Արամ Խաչատրյան; Russian: Аpaм Ильич Xaчaтypян; June 6 [O.S. May 24] 1903 – May 1, 1978) was a prominent Soviet Armenian composer. Khachaturian's works were often influenced by classical Russian music and Armenian folk music. He is most famous for the Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia from his ballet Spartacus, and for the "Sabre Dance" from his ballet Gayane and the adagio from the same ballet, much used in films since its first use in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.
In his youth, he was fascinated by the music he heard around him, but at first he did not study music or learn to read it.
In 1921, he traveled to Moscow to join his brother, unable to speak a word of Russian. Although he had almost no musical education, Khachaturian showed such great talent that he was admitted to the Gnessin Institute where he studied cello under Mikhail Gnessin and entered a composition class (1925). In 1929, he transferred to the Moscow Conservatory where he studied under Nikolai Myaskovsky. In the 1930s, he married the composer Nina Makarova, a fellow student from Myaskovsky's class. In 1951, he became professor at the Gnessin State Musical and Pedagogical Institute (Moscow) and the Moscow Conservatory. He also held important posts at the Composers Union.
Khachaturian wrote music influenced by the folk music of his native Armenia and also composed pieces, such as the Third Symphony, as tributes to Communism. He said, "I wanted to write the kind of composition in which the public would feel my unwritten program without an announcement. I wanted this work to express the Soviet people’s joy and pride in their great and mighty country.” He was later denounced by the Communist Party's Central Committee and his colleagues from the Composers Union, led by Andrei Zhdanov, for being too "formalist" and "antipopular." However these three composers [Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Khatchaturian] later became the so called "titans" of Soviet music, enjoying world-wide reputation as the leading composers of the 20th century.
In his youth, he was fascinated by the music he heard around him, but at first he did not study music or learn to read it.
In 1921, he traveled to Moscow to join his brother, unable to speak a word of Russian. Although he had almost no musical education, Khachaturian showed such great talent that he was admitted to the Gnessin Institute where he studied cello under Mikhail Gnessin and entered a composition class (1925). In 1929, he transferred to the Moscow Conservatory where he studied under Nikolai Myaskovsky. In the 1930s, he married the composer Nina Makarova, a fellow student from Myaskovsky's class. In 1951, he became professor at the Gnessin State Musical and Pedagogical Institute (Moscow) and the Moscow Conservatory. He also held important posts at the Composers Union.
Khachaturian wrote music influenced by the folk music of his native Armenia and also composed pieces, such as the Third Symphony, as tributes to Communism. He said, "I wanted to write the kind of composition in which the public would feel my unwritten program without an announcement. I wanted this work to express the Soviet people’s joy and pride in their great and mighty country.” He was later denounced by the Communist Party's Central Committee and his colleagues from the Composers Union, led by Andrei Zhdanov, for being too "formalist" and "antipopular." However these three composers [Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Khatchaturian] later became the so called "titans" of Soviet music, enjoying world-wide reputation as the leading composers of the 20th century.
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Spartacus: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia
Արամ Խաչատրյան Lyrics
No lyrics text found for this track.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
@marcburger4382
I was five or six years old when I first heard this piece on television. It was the theme song from "The Onedin Line“. The music uplifted me and I was moved to tears. I had never heard anything like this before. I was falling in love.
But I didn't know the name of the piece or the composer. I only knew: it’s this song from that „TV series with the sailing ships.“ For years I searched for the song, asked my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles. Nobody knew it. There was no internet and no google to ask back then.
Years went by. When I was 30 years old, I was in Speyer, Germany. All of a sudden I heard some music from a distance. There was a violinist at the cathedral. And he played that piece! I could not believe what I was hearing. I rushed towards the violinist. Talked to him. He told me the name of the piece and the composer. And played it again. Just for me.
I felt like I had finally met the love of my life again - after losing her. And I could finally take her in my arms. After years of separation.
And this is exactly what Spartacus & Phrygia is about.
With one exception: i didn’t die.
@marcburger4382
I was five or six years old when I first heard this piece on television. It was the theme song from "The Onedin Line“. The music uplifted me and I was moved to tears. I had never heard anything like this before. I was falling in love.
But I didn't know the name of the piece or the composer. I only knew: it’s this song from that „TV series with the sailing ships.“ For years I searched for the song, asked my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles. Nobody knew it. There was no internet and no google to ask back then.
Years went by. When I was 30 years old, I was in Speyer, Germany. All of a sudden I heard some music from a distance. There was a violinist at the cathedral. And he played that piece! I could not believe what I was hearing. I rushed towards the violinist. Talked to him. He told me the name of the piece and the composer. And played it again. Just for me.
I felt like I had finally met the love of my life again - after losing her. And I could finally take her in my arms. After years of separation.
And this is exactly what Spartacus & Phrygia is about.
With one exception: i didn’t die.
@Despina1970
Thank you for your wonderful narrative. Just like you, I first heard the deeply touching melody in the English vessel series "The Onedin Line" in the 1980s and did not know which composer wrote this wonderful piece. It was only a few years later, by chance, that I bought a cassette of works by Khatchaturian and recognized the lyrical and dramatic Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia. It is one of my favorite pieces by Khatcharturian, whom I love very much for his Caucasian and exuberant color. I also played a few easier piano pieces by Khatchaturian, who is technically very demanding, of course not really manageable for an amateur piano player.
@zboruri.1113
You must write and publish. It is a light in your words.
@juliacm1472
Hermosa historia de amor...🎼❤️
@user-pr6sb9ix3y
Bonjour, j'ai exactement connu la même anecdote, le générique de fin de ce feuilleton qui se passait sur un magnifique trois mats le "Charlotte Ross", moi non plus je ne savais pas qui avait composé ce déchirant adagio ! Je l'ai découvert plus de trente ans après en écoutant par hasard une station de radio qui passe du classique : France Musique ! Cela a été une révélation ! Je pleure comme une madeleine en l'écoutant... C'est juste sublime.
@hudapolly1970
One of the beautiful pieces of music ever.
@frankschmitzer5824
Yes, I agree with you. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. I wish we could bring back to life all the world's famous composers who struggled to create beautiful music and have them listen to this. We don't have words to adequately describe this beauty.
@nanicastillo7285
This is what “ Falling In Love” sounds like .
@silvergirl2847
❤
@jeanettemccormack1041
😊❤What a loverly way to describe this hauntingly beautiful piece of music.