Karen KhachaturianComposerKaren Khachaturian (born in 1920) is one of the outstanding Russian composers. His father, S.I.Khachaturian, was a well-known theatrical figure, producer of MHT-2 and the founder of the Armenian drama studio in Moscow. K.Khachurian is a student of V.Ja.Shebalin, H.Ja.Miaskovsky and D.D.Shostakovitch, a professor of the Moscow Conservatoire (since 1986), a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1976). He is the author of 4 symphonies, overtures, cantatas, oratorios, orchestral suites, plays for piano, two ballets (“Chippolino”, “Wightsnow”), music for more than 40 movies and 20 theatrical performances. Sonata for violin and piano (successfully performed by D.Oistrakh, L.Kogan, Ja.Kheifets and other outstanding violinists), Sonata for violoncello and piano (performed by М.Rostrapovich), the 2-nd Symphony, ballet “Chippolino” made the composer World famous. His concert for violoncello with orchestra, string quartet, trio for violin, French horn and piano occupy a firm place in concert repertoire. Each of K.Khachaturian’s works clearly demonstrates an acute modern feeling of the musical form, delicacy of timbreous and harmonic hearing. The outstanding Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian was 19, when, coming to Moscow, he has firstly seen a cello and expressed a wish to study playing “this big violin”. After only four years, the unexpectedly bloomed musical talent will open to him the doors of composition classes of professors Gnesin and, later, Myaskovsky – prominent, outstanding teachers. The first, but already unusually mature compositions by Khachaturian are also dated of the late 1920ths. Just from the beginning of his creative path, Khachaturian was deeply attached exactly to the instrumental music. With rare exceptions, the instrumental music makes the overwhelming majority of his heritage. But, being born in Tbilissi and having absorbed the music of different nations through their song art, he has consciously interpreted it in the instrumental genre. Exactly because of it, his music written for the “lifeless” instruments, suddenly gets voice, starts to sing and to breath – simply and naturally, as it could not be the other way. Khachaturian was an excellent symphonist; he has worked out his private, unrepeatable orchestral style – colorful, gay, sometimes reminding of the “sunny and hot” pictures by Martiros Saryan. But, possessing perfectly the colors of the orchestral palette, he knew also the virtuoso possibilities of the each instrument, though he unfortunately had no possibility to write the pieces for the each one of them. Critically analyzing the work of Aram Khachaturian from the position of our time, one can reproach him that he, being an adherent of traditional writing and trying to escape the “exaggerations”, used only the tested range of the expressive means. But it is mostly only a form, filled of unrepeatable individual content. Thanks to this, all the efforts of his imitators to mask the source of their “inspiration” were condemned to the total fiasco. The complete list of works of Aram Khachaturian includes three Concertos: Violin, Piano and Cello, Concerto-rhapsodies for the same instruments, a range of solo sonatas, a Trio, other instrumental pieces… This entire works, and especially the Concertos, have become the serious milestones as in the development of the genre, as also in the performing technique. Thanks to its classicality, simplicity of harmonic language and texture and the brightly expressed virtuoso character, the music by Aram Khachaturian always attracted the attention of the performers, and the national peculiarity provided the freshness of its perception on the international stage. In his last compositions, Khachaturian has tried to explore the new expressive means of the contemporary music. But just the works that were written by him exactly in 1930-50ths have expressed very precisely the individuality of Khachaturian, without any conventionalities, demonstrating very sincerely and with force the spiritual outbursts of the composer, sometimes with purely Southern verbosity, sometimes – deeply reflecting on each note and phrase. In the history of the world music, he will always be remembered this way. Musical composition Aria (1964) for chamber orchestra. Duration: 5’. The orchestra: 1. 1. 2. 1. – 2. 1. 1. 0. – timp – str Autumn Song (1969) for voice and piano At the Lonely Passe -willow (1950) Cantata for mixed chorus and symphony orchestra, op. 7 / Words by M. Lisyansky. Duration: 10’. The orchestra: 3(pic). 2. 2. 2. – 4. 2. 3. 1. – timp, side drum, cym, bass drum – hp – str Chorale and Fugue (1975) for two trumpets and two trombones Christmas Tree (1951) Children’s suite for small symphony orchestra, in six parts, op. 11. Duration: 12’ Introduction. Presto Snow-Maiden and Santa Claus. Andantino Riding Troika. Allegretto Little Red Hat and Gray Wolf. Andantino Waltz. Allegro March. Marciale The orchestra: 2 (pic). 1. 2. 1. – 2. 2. 1. 0. – trg, chime-bells, side drum, cym, bass drum - hp, pf, str Concert Pieces (1957-1965) for piano Children’s Music (1978) for piano Procession. Maestoso Dance. Andantino Tag. Vivo Sad Song. Andante Ancient Waltz. Allegretto Minuet. Andante gracioso Merry play. Allegro Frightening Tale. Largo March. Allegretto (1951) Concerto (1983) for violoncello and orchestra, in one part. Duration: 26’. The orchestra: 3 (pic). 2. 3. 2. – 4. 2. 3. 1. – timp, side drum, tamb, bass drum, tam-tam, whip, bell, xyl, vib – cel, hp – str Concerto (1997-2002) for violin and orchestra Concert March (1952) Contest (1965) Musical picture from the film Wander Match Dialogues (1996) for two clarinets and piano Dithyramb (1991) for symphony orchestra in one movements / Dedicated to S. Prokofiev 20’ Epitaph (1986) for strings and percussion instruments. Duration: 20’. The orchestra: str (12, 10, 8, 8, 6) – timp, bell, tam-tam, trg Fifth Symphony (1998-2002) for symphony orchestra First Suite (1949) for symphony orchestra, in three parts First Symphony (1955) in four parts, op. 12 / Second redaction (1963) 35’30 Adagio Allegretto (Scherzo) Andantino Final. Agitato. Allegro energico The orchestra: 3 (pic). 3 (e hn). 3. 3. – 4. 2. 3. 1. – timp, side drum, cym, tamb, bass drum, xyl –hp – str Friendship (1959). Overture. Duration: 8’ The orchestra: 3 (pic). 2. 2. 2. – 4. 2. 3. 1. – timp, side drum, cym, bass drum, xyl – hp – str Hawk and Chickens (1962) Musical picture for piano Humoresque (1989) for trombone and piano Impromptu (1989) for French horn and piano In Mongolia (1952) Suite for small symphony orchestra, in six parts, op. 10. Duration: 10’30 Song. Moderato Dance. Allegretto Legend. Andantino Processions. Marciale Finale. Moderato The orchestra: 2 (pic). 1. 2. 1. – 2.2.1.0. – timp, tamb, side drum, cym, bass drum – hp, pf – str In the Circus (1968) Suite, in four parts. Duration: 14’ Riders. Allegro Acrobats on Trapeze. Tempo di valse Juggles. Allegro moderato Side-show. Maestoso The orchestra: 3 (pic). 2. 2. 2. – 4. 4. 3. 1. – timp, tamb, side drum, cym, bass drum –hp, gtr – str Introduction and Fugue (1972) for organ Merry March (1952) March of Soviet Militia (1976) Moment of History (1971) Oratorio for reciter, mixed chorus and symphony orchestra on documentary / Revolution texts. Duration: 26’ Agitato Vivace Largo Adagio Largo The orchestra: 3 (pic). 3 (e hn). 3. 3 (cbn). – 4.3.3.1. – timp, trg, whip, side drum, 3 tt, cym, bass drum, tam-tam, bells, xyl, vib – cel, hp, pf – str Music from the ballet Cippolino (1983) 12 pieces for piano duet Tarantella Pumpkin’s Dance Tomato Gallop Cippolino’s March Flower Waltz Variations of Radish Pursuit Ceremonial Precession Minuet Magnolia and Little Cherry Final Nine Pieces (1967) for piano Olympiad – 80 (1980) Overture. Duration: 8’ Olympic march (1979) Ostinato (1995) for piano Overture (1949) for symphony orchestra. Duration: 8’ Oriental Suite (1953) for small symphony orchestra, in five parts 12’ Poem of Mothers (1975) Vocal cycle for Soprano and piano, in five parts / Words by G. Mistral from the short poem in prose 12’ What will it be? Eternal Pain Image of the Earth To the Husband Why did You come? Sacred Low Quartet (1969) For two violins, viola and violoncello, in four parts 14’ Lento Larghetto Vivo Adagio Scherzo (1988) For bassoon and piano Second Quartet (1998) For two violins, viola and violoncello, in two parts 14’ Seven Pieces (1982) For electro-organ Hymn Serenade Waltz Oriental Dance Imitation Adagio Final Sonata (1985) For violin solo 19’ Simfoniette (1949) In three parts 18’ Second redaction of Cippolino (1973) Ballet, in three acts, seven scenes / Libretto by G. Rykhlov after Janni Rodari Cippolino’s Adventures; Musical items 1-51 90’ The orchestra:3 (pic). 2. 3. 3 (cbn) – 4. 2. 3. 1 – perc. (timp, trg, castanets, maracas, temple-block, recoreco, rattle, whip, tamb, side drum, tam-tam, xyl) – elec gtr, cel, hp, pf, str Second Symphony (1968) In two parts 14’ Andante sostenuto Allegro molto The orchestra: 3 (pic). 3 (e hn). 3. 3 (cbn). – 4. 3. 3. 1. – timp, trg, rattle, side drum, whip, cym, bass drum, tam-tam, tt, xyl, vib –cel, hp, pf –str Snow-white and Seven Gnomes (1993) Ballet, in three acts, seven scenes / Libretto by G. Mayorov 80’ The orchestra: 3 (III=pic). 2. 3. 3 (cbn). – 4. 3. 3. 1. – timp, trg, maracas, rattle, tamb, side drum, xyl, vib - hp, str Sonata (1947) For violin and piano, in three movements 18’ Allegro Andante Presto Sonata (1966) For cello and piano, in four movements 18’ Recitative. Adagio Invention. Allegretto Aria. Andante Toccata. Allegro con fuoco Six Pieces (1968) For violin and piano Serenade (1971) For six-stringed guitar Sonata (1976) For clarinet and piano 12’ Sport Suite (1954) For small symphony orchestra, in seven parts 14’ Sixth Suite (1955) For symphony orchestra Third Symphony (1982) In one part 25’ The orchestra: 3 (pic). 3 (e hn). 3. 3 (cbn). – 4.3.3.1. – timp, 3 side drums, cym, 2 sus cym, 4 tt, bass drum, tam-tam, gong, chime-bells, vib –hp, cel, pf – str Trio (1981) For violin, French horn and piano, in three parts 11’30 Lento. Allegro moderato Andante Moderato scherzando Trio (1984) For violin, viola and violoncello Two Miniatures (1975) For violoncello and piano Two Sonatas (1985) For bassoon and piano 10’ & 7’ Variations (1992) For guitar solo 20’ Veterans (1967) Song Vocal Cycle (1982) For men’s voice and chamber orchestra 15’ Vocal Trio (1983) In two parts Youth Overture (1951) For symphony orchestra, op. 8 8’ The orchestra: 3 (pic). 3 (e hn). 2. 2 – 4. 2. 3. 1 – timp, tamb, side drum, bells, bass drum – hp – str TRANSCRIPTIONS of the works by D. Shostakovich Entrance of Soviet Football-players From the ballet Golden Century 2’ Dance of Diva From the ballet Golden Century 3’ Polka Once in Geneva From the ballet Golden Century 2’30 Dance of Kozelkov From the ballet Bolt 3’ Affecting Unity of Classes with Easy Falsification From the ballet Golden Century 5’ Waltz From the ballet Light Stream 5’ Meeting of Two Friends |
