LULLABY by Aram Khachaturian for Viola and Piano transcribed by the Carr-Petrova Duo

In Gayaneh, a ballet composed in the 1930’s, Aram Khachaturian portrays the story of the heroine in the title: a woman fighting mightily between romantic love on one hand and nationalistic zeal on the other. At the climax of the ballet, the plot comes to a halt, and Gayaneh, deploring her husband's cruelty and abusive behavior, begins to sing her child to sleep with a haunting lullaby of mysterious beauty. As is well known, lullabies are ancestral music, sung to children in all countries throughout history, in order to encourage relaxation and sleep - and most importantly, in order to soothe and
alleviate any pains or worries while providing a feeling of hope and the protection of motherly care. A lullaby can offer a novel voice to a mother’s worries and concerns, giving her the opportunity to literally "be heard" - and thus soothing not only the child, but also the mother. A lullaby can also enable courage and resilience during times of distress or vulnerability or during times of adversity and pain