Babajanian was born in
Yerevan on January 22, 1921. By the age 5, his musical talent was apparent, and the composer
Aram Khachaturian suggested that the boy be given proper music training. Two years later, in 1928, Babajanian entered the
Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. In 1938, he continued his studies in Moscow with
Vissarion Shebalin.
He later returned to Yerevan, where from 1950 to 1956 he taught at the conservatory. In 1952, he wrote the Piano Trio in F-sharp minor. It received immediate acclaim and was regarded as a masterpiece from the time of its premiere. Subsequently, he undertook concert tours throughout the
Soviet Union and Europe. In 1971, he was named a
People's Artist of the USSR.
Babajanian wrote in various musical genres, including many popular songs in collaboration with leading poets such as
Yevgeny Yevtushenko and
Robert Rozhdestvensky. Much of his music is rooted in Armenian folk music and folklore, which he generally uses in the virtuosic style of
Rachmaninoff and Khachaturian. His later works were influenced by
Prokofiev and
Bartók. Praised by
Dmitri Shostakovich as a "brilliant piano teacher", Babajanian was also a noted pianist and often performed his own works in concerts.