Gayane C'ebotaryan

Full biography Gayane C'ebotaryan

Gayane C'ebotaryan was an Armenian composer and music educator, born on December 17, 1909, in Tiflis (modern-day Tbilisi). She studied composition at the Moscow Conservatory, where she was a student of Mikhail Gnessin. After completing her studies, she returned to Tiflis and became a professor at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, where she taught composition and music theory until her retirement in 1974.

Throughout her career, C'ebotaryan wrote more than 200 compositions, including orchestral works, chamber music, vocal music, and music for film and theatre. She was noted for her use of Armenian folk music in her compositions, incorporating traditional melodies and rhythms into her work.

One of her most notable works is the ballet "Gayane," which features the famous "Sabre Dance." The ballet premiered in 1942, and the "Sabre Dance" quickly became a popular piece, known for its frenzied tempo and virtuosic violin solo. The piece has since been featured in numerous films and TV shows.

C'ebotaryan was also a respected music educator, and her students included numerous composers and performers who went on to achieve significant success in the Armenian music scene. She was recognized for her contributions to Armenian music with several awards, including the Honored Art Worker of the Armenian SSR.

C'ebotaryan passed away on March 7, 1995, in Yerevan, leaving behind a legacy as one of Armenia's most important composers and music educators.