Compositions

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ROMANCES

"O ROSE"

The romance ''To Rose'' or ''O Rose'' was composed in December 1894 in Moscow, when the composer met Alexander Tsaturyan for the first time who red his poem to some close relatives. Overflowed by this poem, the composer soon composed this romance which was first published as ''Oriental Romance''. Russian translation was done by the composer. The second edition which was prepared by the author before his death was published by Armenian State Publication House Musical Department in Moscow, in 1929.

Play Mp3 "O ROSE" - Davit Babayan 2:27

 

''YOUR BLACK EYES FASCINATED ME''

The romance was composed during graduation years from the gymnasium (in 1888 or 1889) in Simferopol. It was published by Zeyfang (Moscow). The autograph was not preserved. The author of the text is Spendiaryan's contemporary P. Kozlov.
It is dedicated to Elizabeth Arendt.

Play Mp3 ''Your Black Eyes Fascinated Me''- Narine Ananikyan 1:49

 

''YOU ARE THE BRIGHT SUN - THE SUN OF MY SOUL''

The romance was composed in Moscow, in 1892. The author himself wrote the following in the autograph. ''The final edition was made on April 27, 1894''. For the first time it was published from the copy of the autograph. The author of the text is unknown.

Play Mp3 ''You Are The Bright Sun-The Sun Of My Soul''-Artak Kirakosyan 1:22

 

''The Same Night''

The romance was composed in 1895 (lyrics by A. Borovikovsky). The place of the creation is not mentioned. For the first time it was published from the copy of the autograph. As it can be understood from the preserved programs the romance was often performed and the author appeared as a violin performer. The romance is dedicated to Spendiaryan’s classmate Edward Grigorevich Murzayev.

Play Mp3 ''The Same Night'' – Magda Mkrtchyan 2:49

 

''ORIENTAL LULLABY''

The song was written in 1900 based on Rafayel Patkanyan’s famous poem ''Come my nightingale '' The author of the Russian text is the composer himself.

Play Mp3 ''Orinetal Lullaby''- Narine Ananikyan 3:09

 

''DO NOT WEEP, O NIGHTINGALE''

This song was entitled as ''Armenian song'' in P. Jurgenson’s first edition. The melody is national. It is dedicated to the author of the text Al. Tsaturyan. The Russian translation of text was made by Al. Spendiaryan.

Play Mp3 ''Do not weep, o nightingale'' – Magda Mkrtchyan 2:53

 

''To My Sweetheart''

The Armenian national song ''To My Sweetheart'' was written in 1916. Most probably the Russian text was written by Al. Spendiaryan.

Play Mp3 ''To My Sweetheart''-Artak Kirakosyan 3:30

 

''YOUR LIPS ARE LIKE MOUNTAIN CHERRIES''

''The Mountain Cherry'' is a development t of Tatar national song, which was written in Sudak, in 1924. The author of the text is Spendiaryan’s elder daughter Tatyana. For the first time the song was published in Moscow, in 1938.

Play Mp3 ''Your Lips Are Like Mountain Cherries''- Davit Babayan 2:29

 

''O, Rose Of May Youth''

According to composer’s daughter M. Spendiarova’s memories, this romance was written in Feodosia in the end of 1922 or at the beginning of 1923. Most probably, in the mentioned period, the composer reproduced his romance, which he had created earlier. For the first it was published from the autograph. The author of the text is unknown.

Play Mp3 ''O, Rose Of May Youth''- Narine Ananikyan 2:22

 

''SONG OF DROWNED WOMAN''

''Song Of Drowned Woman'' was composed in 1895 based on A. I. Podolinsky’s homonymous poem. Probably it was written in Kakhovka, in the composer’s birthplace. For the first time it was published from the copy of the autograph. It was dedicated to the composer's sister Lisa.

Play Mp3 ''Song Of Drowned Woman''-Alisa Heqimbashyan 3:55

 

''AISHE’S SONG''

The ''Aishe's song'' is a development of a Crimean national song. The Russian text was written by the composer. The song was dedicated to Marina Albertovna Cherepnina.

Play Mp3 ''Aishe's song''-Alisa Heqimbashyan 1:06

 

''NO QUESTION FOR MANY A DAY…''

The romance belongs to Spendiaryan's student years period. It was written in Moscow, in1892. For the first time it was published from the copy of the autograph. The author of the text is a famous philosopher-publicist and poet V. S. Solovyov. The romance was dedicated to V. A. Eberley close friend of Spendiaryan during his student years.

Play Mp3 ''No Question For Many A Day…'' -Alisa Heqimbashyan 2:51

 

''TO THE MOON''

The romance was written in 1906 (lyrics by Shelli). It was dedicated to the famous Russian artist Evgenya Konstantinovna Mravina.

Play Mp3 ''To The Moon''-Alisa Heqimbashyan 2:09

 

''AL-ZAMAST''

The song was composed in 1910. It was published by P. Jurgenson in Moscow. The song was dedicated to Olga Nikolaevna Kachalova.

Play Mp3 ''Al-Zamast''-Alisa Heqimbashyan 1:56

 

SYMPHONIC WORKS

''YEREVAN ETUDES''

The ''Yerevan Etudes'' (''Enzeli'' and ''Hejas'') Al. Spendiaryan wrote in Yerevan in 1925. He dedicated this work to the orchestra of Yerevan State Conservatory which performed this creation with the head of the composer in Yerevan for the first time. Judging by the archive materials we can see that Al. Spendiaryan used the developed version of Sayat-Nova's ''Dun En Glkhen'' song as the prelude of the first part of ''Yerevan Etudes'' ''Enzeli''. The score of ''Yerevan Etudes'' was published in 1927. In the title list of the score it was written: ''Themes of the Etudes were based on Armenian and Arabian melodies which were played by national musicians in Yerevan''.

Play Mp3 ''Enzeli'' 6:57
 
Play Mp3 ''Hejaz'' 2:00

 

''THE THREE PALM TREES'' SYMPHONIC PICTURE

''The Three Palm Trees'' symphonic picture was written in Crimea in 1905 based on M. Lermontov's poem. The score was published in Leipzig in 1907 by M. Belyaev publishing house. In 1908 Al. Spendiaryan was awarded the Prize named after Glinka for this composition. This work was dedicated to composer’s mother. The first performance of symphonic picture took place in Petersburg in 1905 with the head of the composer.

Play Mp3 ''The Three Palm Trees'' 2:40

 

''THE CRIMEAN SKETCHES '' (FIRST SERIES)

The first series of ''The Crimean Sketches '' was written by Al. Spendiaryan in Yalta in 1903. The score was published in 1905 by V. Bessel publishing house. This work is a development of Crimean Tatars national melodies. This composition was dedicated to the famous painter Ivan (Hovhannes) Konstantinovich Aivazovsky's memory.

Play Mp3 Dancing  
Play Mp3 Elegiac Song 2:45
Play Mp3 Drinking Song 1:36
Play Mp3 Dance ''Ghaytarma'' 4:27

 

''THE CRIMEAN SKETCHES (SECOND SERIES)

The second series of ''The Crimean Sketches'' was written by Al. Spendiaryan in Sudak in September 1912. In the definitive edition of the second series the author included the following parts:
The score was published in Moscow in 1927. This composition is considered a development of Crimean Tatars national melodies. The second series of ''The Crimean Sketches'' was dedicated to Spendiaryan’s wife V. L. Spendiarova.

Play Mp3 a. Taksim (Prelude) and b. Beshref (Intermezzo)  
Play Mp3 Love Song  
Play Mp3 Dance ''Baghlama''  
Play Mp3 Bride's Lament 3:20
Play Mp3 Song Of The Mouse  
Play Mp3 a. Dance ''Hoynava'' b. Dance ''Ghaytarma'' 5:16

 

''ETUDE ON HEBREW MELODIES''

At first it was conceived as a piece for orchestra and piano (''Hebrew song and dance'') but than for small orchestra (''Choreographic Etude on Hebrew Melodies''). This creation was finalized on 23rd of August 1921 in Yalta. The manuscript of the score was not preserved.

Play Mp3 ''Etude on Hebrew Melodies'' 7:28

 

''CONCERT WALTZ''

The ''Concert Waltz'' was written and arranged in Yalta in 1907. The score was published in 1910 by P. Jurgenson publishing house. This composition was dedicated to Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov. The first performance of ''Concert Waltz'' based on the manuscript took place on September 1st (old calendar) 1907 in Yalta with the head of the author.

Play Mp3 ''Concert Waltz'' 7:39

 

''CONCERT OVERTURE''

The ''Concert Overture'' was written in Autumn 1900 in Yalta. The score was edited in 1910 by M. Belyaev publishing house. In the title list of the first edition it was printed: "Dedicated to my highly respected teacher Nikolay Rimski-Korsakov". The first performance of ''Concert Prelude'' took place on June 5th (old calendar) 1901 in Pavlovsk.

Play Mp3 ''Concert Overture'' 9:01

 

''MOURNING PRELUDE''

The ''Mourning Prelude'' was written in summer 1908 in Yalta for orchestra under the impression of N. A. Rimski-Korsakov’s death. The score was published by M. Belyaev in 1911. In the title list of the first edition it was printed: "In memory of my dear teacher Nikolay Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov". The first performance of ''Mourning Prelude'', according to the manuscript, took place on July 10th (old calendar) 1908 in Yalta during the first symphonic concert dedicated to N. A. Rimski-Korsakov’s memory.

Play Mp3 ''Mourning Prelude''  

 

''MINUET''

The "Minuet'' was written in 1895 Simpferopol and was dedicated to composer’s friend Kh. I. Medich. The score was published by V. Bessel publishing house for the first time.

Play Mp3 ''Minuet'' 5:18

 

''LULLABY''

This piece was written in 1897. It was dedicated to the composer’s brother’s son Leonid. The score was published by V. Bessel publishing house for the first time.

Play Mp3 ''Lullaby'' 3:46

 

''ALMAST'' OPERA

''ALMAST''

''Almast''- opera with four acts (1918-1928), based on Hovhannes Toumanyan's poem ''The Capture օf The Fortress օf Tmuk''. The author of libretto was Sophia Parnok. The author of the Armenian version is Tigran Hakhumyan. Al. Spendiaryan worked on the orchestration of the opera till the end of his life.

Play Mp3 ''Almast'' 13:48