Khachaturian, Aram

Khachaturian, Aram (Ilyich)

(born June 6, 1903, Tbilisi, Georgia, Russian Empire—died May 1, 1978, Moscow, U.S.S.R.) Soviet (Armenian) composer. He studied with Reinhold Glière (1875–1956) and Nikolay Myaskovsky (1881–1950). He gained international notice when Sergey Prokofiev recommended one of his pieces for a Paris concert. Active in the composer's union, Khachaturian (along with Dmitry Shostakovich and Prokofiev) was criticized by the government in 1948 for “formalist tendencies,” though his music was in fact always conservative and accessible. After Joseph Stalin's death (1953), Khachaturian published a call for greater artistic freedom. His ballet scores include Masquerade (1944) and Spartacus (1954); Gayane (1943) contains the well-known “Sabre Dance.” Other popular pieces include his piano and violin concertos.