Arno Harutyunovich Babajanian (; ; January 22, 1921 – November 11, 1983) was a Soviet and Armenian composer and pianist. He was made a People's Artist of the USSR in 1971
Biography
Babajanian was born in Yerevan on January 22, 1921. By the age 5, his musical talent was apparent, and the composer Aram Khachaturian suggested that the boy be given proper music training. Two years later, in 1928, Babajanian entered the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. In 1938, he continued his studies in Moscow with Vissarion Shebalin.
He later returned to Yerevan, where from 1950 to 1956 he taught at the conservatory. In 1952, he wrote the Piano Trio in F-sharp minor. It received immediate acclaim and was regarded as a masterpiece from the time of its premiere. Subsequently, he undertook concert tours throughout the Soviet Union and Europe. In 1971, he was named a People's Artist of the USSR.
Babajanian wrote in various musical genres, including many popular songs in collaboration with leading poets such as Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Robert Rozhdestvensky. Much of his music is rooted in Armenian folk music and folklore, which he generally uses in the virtuosic style of Rachmaninoff and Khachaturian. His later works were influenced by Prokofiev and Bartók. Praised by Dmitri Shostakovich as a "brilliant piano teacher", Babajanian was also a noted pianist and often performed his own works in concerts.
List of principal works
Piano works
for piano solo
Prelude (1938) Vagharshapat dance (1943) Impromptu (1944) Polyphonic sonata (1946, revised 1956) Capriccio (1951) Six pictures (1963–64) Poem (1965) Meditation (1969) Melody and Humoresque (1970) Elegy (1978)
for two pianos
(co-composed by Alexander Arutiunian) Dance (early 1940s) Armenian Rhapsody (1950) Festive (1960, includes percussive instruments)
Works for solo instrument and piano
Violin sonata (1958) Air and Dance for Cello (1961)
Chamber works
String quartet No. 1 (1938) String quartet No. 2 (1947?) Piano trio (1952) String quartet No. 3 (1976)
Orchestral works
Poem-rhapsody (1954, revised 1980) March of the Soviet Police (1977)
Concerto
Piano concerto (1944) Violin concerto (1948) "Heroic ballade" for piano and orchestra (1950) Cello concerto (1962)
Ballet pieces
"Parvana" (Парвана) (1954–56; incomplete, probably lost) "Pas-de-deux" (Па-де-де) "Stellar symphony" (Звездная симфония) (early 1960s) "Umbrellas" (Зонтики) "Sensation" (Сенсация)
Pieces for stage orchestra
Armenian Lipsi
Rhythmic dance
In Karlovy Vary
Come to Yerevan
Festive Yerevan
Nocturne (Concert piece for piano and orchestra) (1980) Dreams (Concert piece for piano and orchestra) (1982)
Film scores
Looking for the addressee (В поисках адресата) (1955) Path of thunder (Тропою грома) (1956) Personally known (Лично известен) (1957) The Song of First Love (Песня первой любви) (1958) A Groom from the Other World (Жених с того света) (1958) Bride from the North (Невеста с севера) (1975) My heart is in the Highlands (В горах мое сердце) (1975) Baghdasar's divorce (Багдасар разводится с женой) (1976) Chef contest (Приехали на конкурс повара) (1977) The flight starts from the Earth (Полет начинается с земли) (1980) The mechanics of happiness (Механика счастья) (1982)
Songs (over 200 in total; selection) "Nocturne" ("Ноктюрн") "Bring me back the music" (""Верни мне музыку") "Beauty queen" ("Королева красоты") "Wedding" ("Свадьба") "Best city in the world" ("Лучший город Земли"), originally performed by Jean Tatlian and made a classic by Muslim Magomayev "Grateful to you" ("Благодарю тебя") "Ferris wheel" ("Чертово колесо") "Heart on snow" ("Сердце на снегу") "The blue taiga" ("Голубая тайга") "Dum spiro, spero" (Пока я помню, я живу) "Aria-vocalise" (Ария-вокализ)