Hijas (from "Yerevan Etudes")

Alexander Spendiaryan was born in Kakhovka, Ukraine. Spendiaryan received his Secondary education in Simferopol gymnasium. In 1895 he graduated from the Law Faculty of Moscow State University. Spendiaryan learned to play the violin. From 1892 to 1894, he studied the composition theory under the tuition of N. Klenovski, and from 1896 to 1900 under the tuition of N. Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg. For many years, Spendiaryan lived in Crimea, where he carried out conductive and musical-social activities. In 1924 he moved to Yerevan, created a symphonic orchestra and taught at the Conservatory. In 1926 he was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Armenia. Spendiaryan died in Yerevan.