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	Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (June 6, 1903 - May 1, 1978) was an Armenian composer. He was born in 1903 in Tbilisi of the then Russian Empire and at the age of 17 he settled in Moscow. He was admitted to the famous Gnessin School of Music without any previous musical education, where he studied cello and composition. He then studied at the Moscow Conservatory (1929-1934) and very quickly began to distinguish himself with works like the "trio for Flute, Violin and Piano", the "First Symphony", the music for ballet and the work for choir and orchestra "Poem for Stalin", (to mark the 25th anniversary of the revolution of Bolsheviks), as well as music for theatrical and cinematographic works. For most of his career, he was favored by the Soviet government and held several senior positions from the late 1930s, although he did not join the Communist Party until 1943. From 1951 he taught at the Moscow Conservatory and worked as an orchestra conductor. In 1957 he became Secretary of the Union of Soviet Composers, a position he held until his death while traveling to Europe, Latin America and the United States with concerts of his works. He was particularly devoted to the development of Armenian music, having deeply studied the Armenian tradition. His style of music has a strong oriental color, some of his most famous works are the ballet Gaiane (1942) which includes the well-known Dance of the Swords: the second Symphony, the Waltz for Concerto (1955) and the Spartacus Ballet (1956). Among others, he composed the national anthem of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia. In 1948 he was accused, along with Dmitry Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev, of urbanizing their music by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russia. He pleaded guilty to having no problems with the regime, but after Stalin's death he publicly protested for the accusation against him. In 1954 he was named "People's Artist of the Soviet Union" and five years later he received his 2nd Lenin Prize. Hae was married since 1933 to fellow student Nina Makarova, in October 1965 he was admitted to a hospital in Geneva in critical condition after suffering a heart attack. He died in Moscow on May 1, 1978, after a long illness.

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Khachaturian 1903 - 1978 (75)

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Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (June 6, 1903 - May 1, 1978) was an Armenian composer. He was born in 1903 in Tbilisi of the then Russian Empire and at the age of 17 he settled in Moscow. He was admitted to the famous Gnessin School of Music without any previous musical education, where he studied cello and composition. He then studied at the Moscow Conservatory (1929-1934) and very quickly began to distinguish himself with works like the "trio for Flute, Violin and Piano", the "First Symphony", the music for ballet and the work for choir and orchestra "Poem for Stalin", (to mark the 25th anniversary of the revolution of Bolsheviks), as well as music for theatrical and cinematographic works.

For most of his career, he was favored by the Soviet government and held several senior positions from the late 1930s, although he did not join the Communist Party until 1943. From 1951 he taught at the Moscow Conservatory and worked as an orchestra conductor. In 1957 he became Secretary of the Union of Soviet Composers, a position he held until his death while traveling to Europe, Latin America and the United States with concerts of his works. He was particularly devoted to the development of Armenian music, having deeply studied the Armenian tradition. His style of music has a strong oriental color, some of his most famous works are the ballet Gaiane (1942) which includes the well-known Dance of the Swords:

the second Symphony, the Waltz for Concerto (1955) and the Spartacus Ballet (1956). Among others, he composed the national anthem of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia.

In 1948 he was accused, along with Dmitry Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev, of urbanizing their music by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russia. He pleaded guilty to having no problems with the regime, but after Stalin's death he publicly protested for the accusation against him. In 1954 he was named "People's Artist of the Soviet Union" and five years later he received his 2nd Lenin Prize.

Hae was married since 1933 to fellow student Nina Makarova, in October 1965 he was admitted to a hospital in Geneva in critical condition after suffering a heart attack. He died in Moscow on May 1, 1978, after a long illness.