Prelude

Arno Babajanian was born in Yerevan. He wrote his first musical composition at the age of nine. In 1929 he was admitted to Yerevan State Conservatory’s Music School. After graduating he continued his studies at the Conservatory. In 1938 he left for Moscow and started studying at Gnessin Musical College. From 1948 Babajanian continued his studies at the Piano Department of Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. From 1950 to 1956 he taught at Yerevan Conservatory. Babajanian lived and worked in Moscow from 1956. He was awarded the title of People's Artist of Armenia and the USSR in 1960 and 1971 respectively. Babajanian died in Yerevan.