Alexander Spendiarov - Selected Works for Piano

Mikael Ayrapetyan - Piano 00:00 Yerevan Etudes No.2 - Gidzhas 03:36 Yerevan Etudes No.1 - Enzeli 10:21 Scherzo (1894) 13:07 Crimean Sketches Op.9 - Air de Dance 15:16 Crimean Sketches Op.9 - Chanson Elegiaque 17:36 Crimean Sketches Op.9 - Chanson a Boire 19:20 Crimean Sketches Op.9 - Khaytarma 23:35 Brave Warriors March Op. 26 29:55 Folk Song, Dance and Khaytarma - Folk Song 32:54 Folk Song, Dance and Khaytarma - Dance and Khaytarma 34:49 Barcarolle (1892) 37:35 Minuette Op.3 No.1 42:40 Berceuse Op.3 No.2 43:53 Minuette in D minor 49:31 Waltz in B flat Major Alexander Spendiarov (Spendiaryan) (1871-1928) was a Russian and Soviet music composer, conductor, founder of Armenian national symphonic music. He was born in Kakhovka, Ukraine. Composer Aram Khatchaturian said of his predecessor, “I am profoundly convinced that Spendiarov and Komitas are the patriarchs of Armenian classical music; they have charted the principal trends in the evolution of Armenian musical art for many decades to come.“ Spendiarov and Aram Khatchaturian met for the first time in Moscow. Spendiarov appreciated the potential in the young composer. He inherited his musical abilities from his mother who played piano. When Alexander Spendiarov was seven he wrote a waltz. In 1890 he went to Moscow and studied for one year in the Natural Sciences faculty of Moscow University, and then in 1895 he graduated from the Law faculty. At the same time he continued his violin classes. In 1896 Alexander Spendiarov went to St. Petersburg to show his compositions to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, who greatly admired his music and encouraged him to turn deeper into his people’s folklore. From 1896 to 1900 he took private composition lessons with Rimsky-Korsakov. According to Alexander Glazunov, “Rimsky-Korsakov was perfectly satisfied with the results of Alexander Spendiarov’s work and considered him a serious, talented composer with a great flair for composition“. Spendiarov was awarded the Glinka prize three times for his three works: the symphonic picture “Three Palms“ in 1908, the legend “Preacher Beda“ in 1910 and the melody declamation “We’ll Have a Rest“ in 1912. His symphonic pieces, songs and romances, choral works, and musico-declamatory pieces earned him high marks among audiences and professional musicians. Spendiarov led concerts in Kharkov, Odessa, Moscow, Petersburg, Doni-Rostov and New Nakhijevan. He spent much of his time in Yalta and Sudak. While he was living in Crimea, Spendiarov met Anton Chekhov, Maxim Gorky and Fyodor Shalyapin. Alexander Glazunov was also a guest at his house. On 10 December 1924 Spendiarov, newly arrived in Yerevan from Russia, conducted an 18-member orchestra consisting of conservatory professors and students. The following year, on 20 March 1925, Professor Arshak Adamian, Rector of the Yerevan Conservatory, led the first concert of the then newly founded symphony orchestra. At the time, Spendiarov accurately predicted, “There will come a time, when our yet modest student orchestra will proudly bear the honorary title of the Armenian State Orchestra.“ The “Yerevan Sketches (Etudes)“ (1925) comprise some of the best work of Spendiarov’s last years. The sketches are proceeded by numerous notations of folk themes, and experiments in their arrangement and harmonization. In the sketches, Spendiarov introduced the dhol and the dayira, two Armenian musical instruments. In 1926 the Soviet Armenian government awarded Spendiarov the title of People’s Artist on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his achievements in musical and public life. Spendiarov died after a short illness in Yerevan in 1928. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please support this channel