Gayane

Gayane (sometimes written Gayaneh) is a ballet in 4 acts with music by Aram Khachaturian. Originally composed in 1942, to a libretto by Derzhavin and with choreography by Anisimova, the score was revised in 1952, and then again in 1957 with a new plot.

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Khatchaturian's original 'Gayane' concerned the story of a young Armenian woman whose patriotic convictions came into conflict with her personal feelings when she discovered her husband betraying his country. In later years, however, the plot underwent several modifications, whose result was to emphasise romance at the expense of nationalist zeal.

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It is a simple tale of a collective farm in the Soviet Union. The diversity of such farms provided the backdrop for a strong ethnic flavor to each part of the music (with some tunes favoring the slower string quartet arrangements, while others taking on the lively folk instruments of the gypsies of Eastern Europe), and of a compelling tale of love between classes.

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The ballet was a modest success before Joseph Stalin, and has seen limited rerelease outside of the USSR.

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For concert performance, the composer later arranged no fewer than three suites from music drawn from the ballet score.

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The Sabre Dance, a movement in the final act of the ballet, is perhaps the most famous piece of the music. It is a whirling mazurka, made famous by plate spinners and other human tricks innovators.

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Stanley Kubrick's film ' featured some of the less up-tempo parts of the Gayane music, as did the movies Patriot Games and Aliens.

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Ballet: Ballet is the name given to a specific dance form and technique. Dance works choreographed using this technique are called ballets and may include: dance, mime, acting, and music (orchestral and sung). Ballets can be performed alone or as part of an opera. Ballet is best known for its virtuoso techn...

Aram Khachaturian: Aram Ilich Khachaturian (Armenian: Արամ Խաչատրյան, Aram Xa?atryan; Russian: Аpaм Ильич Xaчaтypян, Aram Il'i? Ha?aturjan) (June 6, 1903 – May 1, 1978) ...

1942: This article is about the year. For the 1984 Capcom arcade game, see 1942 (video game)....