Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features Aram Khachaturi͡an’s ballet Spartacus. Thanks, Eli!
Spartacus – Aram Khachaturi͡an
Spartacus, a gladiator turned revolutionary from present-day Bulgaria, lived for only thirty-two years before dying in battle against Roman legions in 71 BC. Yet, his name and infamy remain today, due to his initial success in leading a slave revolt against the might of the Roman Republic.
Spartacus’ story is the subject of countless pieces of media, from Stanley Kubrick’s film 1960 Spartacus to numerous novels and poems. Musicians have been equally inspired by the gladiator’s exploits. In 1863, Camille Saint-Saëns composed the “Spartacus Overture,” an often looked-over piece that won him first prize in a French music competition. For the 1960 film version, Alex North composed “Love Theme from ‘Spartacus,’” a beautiful ballad that has become a well-known jazz standard. Spartacus was even the subject of the Phantom Regiment’s 2008 Drum Corps International championship-winning show.
What receives the most attention, however, is Aram Khachaturi͡an’s score for his 1956 ballet Spartacus. Upon its first composition two years earlier, Khachaturian was awarded a Lenin Prize, one of the Soviet Union’s most prestigious awards for contributions to science, literature, the arts, and more. Khachaturi͡an’s score is considered a masterpiece and has been greatly used in popular culture, from references in the movie Ice Age: The Meltdown to gold-medal figure skating performances. The adagio of act three is absolutely a must-listen, pulling at heartstrings and inspiring the listener in the same breath. If you would like to give the ballet a listen, Parsons Music Library has several versions, including one conducted by Khachaturian himself in 1962.
