Aram Khachaturian

Aram Khachaturian  (6 June 1903 – 1 May 1978) was a Soviet Armenian composer and conductor.  He is considered one of the leading Soviet composers.  Khachaturian was the most renowned Armenian composer of the 20th century and the author of the first Armenian ballet music, symphony, concerto, and film score.  While following the established musical traditions of Russia, he broadly used Armenian and to lesser extent, Caucasian, Eastern & Central European, and Middle Eastern peoples’ folk music in his works.  He is highly regarded in Armenia, where he is considered a “national treasure”.  (More from Wikipedia)