Sabre Dance
Donald Macleod tells the story behind the composition of Khachaturian's famous work, the Sabre Dance from his ballet Gayane.
His famous Sabre Dance was once the most frequently played piece of music in the world, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Aram Khachaturian.
By the time Khachaturian composed his First Symphony, he was finishing his course at the Moscow Conservatoire. He decided to stay on as a postgraduate student, studying with Myaskovsky. He supplemented his income by composing music for the cinema. This included a film project for the Armenian State Film Company, called Pepo, and also a historical and revolutionary film entitled Zangezur.
Around this time, Khachaturian first encountered Nina, who would become his second wife. Khachaturian recalled that, when he first met Nina, "happiness walked in". Happiness became the name of one of Khachaturian's ballets, later reworked and called Gayane, which includes his famous Sabre Dance.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Dance in B flat major Op.1 for violin and piano
Performer: Fabiana Biasini. Performer: Michael Jelden.- Edition HERA.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Mountaineers
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Lezghinka
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Sabre Dance
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Lullaby
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Gayaneh鈥檚 Adagio
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Zangezur - march for wind band
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Pepo - music for the film
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Pepo - Pepo's Song
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Symphony no. 1
Orchestra: State Academic Symphony Orchestra of The Russian Federation.- Melodiya.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Dance in B flat major Op.1 for violin and piano
Performer: Fabiana Biasini. Performer: Michael Jelden.- Edition HERA.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Symphony no. 1
Orchestra: State Academic Symphony Orchestra of The Russian Federation.- Melodiya.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Pepo - music for the film
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Pepo - Pepo's Song
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Zangezur - march for wind band
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Lezghinka
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Lullaby
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Sabre Dance
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Mountaineers
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
-
![]()
Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Gayaneh鈥檚 Adagio
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
Broadcasts
- Tue 28 Oct 2014 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Tue 28 Oct 2014 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.