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.
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Music Played
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Aram Khachaturian
Dance in B flat major Op.1 for violin and piano
Performer: Fabiana Biasini. Performer: Michael Jelden.- Edition HERA.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Mountaineers
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Lezghinka
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Sabre Dance
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Lullaby
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Gayaneh’s Adagio
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Zangezur - march for wind band
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
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Aram Khachaturian
Pepo - music for the film
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
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Aram Khachaturian
Pepo - Pepo's Song
Orchestra: Armenian Philharmonic Rock Orchestra. Conductor: Loris Tjeknavorian.- ASV.
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Aram Khachaturian
Symphony no. 1
Orchestra: State Academic Symphony Orchestra of The Russian Federation.- Melodiya.
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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.
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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.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Lullaby
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Sabre Dance
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Mountaineers
Orchestra: London S O..- EMI.
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Aram Khachaturian
Gayane - Gayaneh’s Adagio
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
Broadcasts
- Tue 28 Oct 201412:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 28 Oct 201418:30BBC Radio 3
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