Music of Azerbaijan builds on
folk traditionsFolk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
that reach back nearly 1,000 years. For centuries
AzerbaijanAzerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i music has evolved under the badge of
monodyIn poetry, the term monody has become specialized to refer to a poem in which one person laments another's death....
, producing rhythmically diverse melodies. Azerbaijani music has a branchy
modeIn the theory of Western music since the ninth century, mode generally refers to a type of scale. This usage, still the most common in recent years, reflects a tradition dating to the middle ages, itself inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music.The word encompasses several additional...
system, where
chromatisationChromaticism is a compositional technique interspersing the primary diatonic pitches and chords with other pitches of the chromatic scale. Chromaticism is in contrast or addition to tonality or diatonicism...
of
major and minorIn Western music, the adjectives major and minor can describe a musical composition, movement, section, scale, key, chord, or interval.Major and minor are frequently referred to in the titles of classical compositions, especially in reference to the key of a piece.-Intervals and chords:With regard...
scalesIn music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
is of great importance. As is the case also with Arabic and Turkish and even more evidently, much of the musical terminology of Azerbaijani cultures is of Persian origin.
Mugam
The classical music of Azerbaijan is called mugam (more accurately spelled muğam), and draws on the music of the Iranian-Arab-Turkish
maqamArabic maqām is the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music, which is mainly melodic. The word maqam in Arabic means place, location or rank. The Arabic maqam is a melody type...
. It is usually a suite with
poetryPoetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and instrumental interludes. The sung poetry sometimes includes
tahrir', تحرير ,التحرير, is a word of Arabic origin, meaning liberation.Uses of Tahrir include:*Tahrir al-Wasilah - a book authored by Ayatollah Khomeini*Tahrir Square - major public square in Cairo...
segments, which use a form of singing similar to yodelling. The poetry is typically about divine love and is most often linked to Sufi
IslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.Mugam created in ancient Iran territory and developed in Azerbaijan republic and Iran Azerbaijan provinces since Safavid(The most branch of mugam which called by bayat(like bayat-e-kurd,bayate-shiraz, bayat-e-turk...)created by an Azerbaijani tradition(Bayat which have music talents)in different provinces of Iran like kurdisatn, shiraz, isfahan. The most of royal musicians in palaces of ancient Iran kings in provinces were Bayat and there is no relation between Persian and mugam because of different morality and life philosophy between Persians and ancient Iran traditions.
In 2011, Azerbaijan won the Eurovision song contest, despite geographically being in Asia. This caused much anger across the right-wing extremists. Especially in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. In contrast to the mugam traditions of Central Asian countries, Azeri mugam is more free-form and less rigid; it is often compared to the improvised field of
jazzThe Azerbaijani jazz is a popular variety of jazz, widespread in Azerbaijan. It covers a broad range of styles and often features a blend with traditional Azeri music. The Baku International Jazz Festival is held annually in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku...
.
UNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
proclaimed the Azerbaijani mugam tradition a
Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of HumanityThe Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness on intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural...
on November 7, 2003.
Musical instruments
Instruments used in traditional Azeri music include the stringed instruments
tarThe tār is a long-necked, waisted Iranian instrument. It has been adopted by other cultures and Azerbaijan. The word tar itself means "string" in Persian, though it might have the same meaning in languages influenced by Persian or any other branches of Iranian languages like Kurdish...
(skin faced lute), the kamancha (skin faced spike fiddle), the
oudThe oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
, originally barbat, and the
sazthumb|180px|Cura and bağlamaThe bağlama is a stringed musical instrument shared by various cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Near East, and Central Asia....
(long necked lute); the double-reed wind instrument balaban, the
frame drumA frame drum is a drum that has a drumhead width greater than its depth. Usually the single drumhead is made of rawhide or man-made materials. Shells are traditionally constructed of bent wood scarf jointed together; plywood and man-made materials are also used. Some frame drums have mechanical...
ghaval, the cylindrical double faced drum naghara (
davulThe davul or tupan is a large double-headed drum that is played with sticks. It has many names depending on the country and region.-Names:Some names of davuls include:*tupan *davul...
), and the goshe nagara (
naqarehThe naqqāra is a drum with a rounded back and a hide head. It is thus a membranophone.The term naqqāra , also naqqarat, naqqarah, naqqåre, nakkare, nagora comes from the Arabic verb naqr- that means "to strike, beat".-Construction:The rounded section of a naqqara is made of baked clay, while the...
) (pair of small kettle drums). Other instruments include the garmon (small accordion), tutek (whistle flute),
dafA daf is a frame drum used as a musical instrument in popular and classical music. The term daf is used in Iran / Kurdistan for a large drum that has a series of four interlinked rings in the frame. Daf is mostly used in Middle East, Iran, Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and ...
(frame drum) and
nagara (drum)The nagara is a folk drum with double head that is played on one side with the bare hands. It is performed in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and other Caucasus regions. It has different names, according to the territory in which it is played...
(barrel drum).
Ashiqs
Ashiqs are traveling bards who sing and play the
sazthumb|180px|Cura and bağlamaThe bağlama is a stringed musical instrument shared by various cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Near East, and Central Asia....
, a form of
luteLute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
. Their songs are semi-
improvisedImprovisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
around a common base.
Opera in Azerbaijan
- Opera of "Leyli and Majnun" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
(first performed, 1908)
- Opera of "Rustam and Zohrab" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
- Opera of "Asli and Karam" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
- Opera of "Harun and Layla" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
- Opera of "Shah Abbas and Khurshidbanu" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
(1912)
- Opera of "Firuze" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
(unfinished)
- Opera of Koroglu by Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
(first performed, 1938)
- Opera of "Shah Ismail" by Muslim Magomayev
- Opera of "Nargiz" by Muslim Magomayev
- Opera of "Xoruz-bey" by Muslim Magomayev
- Opera of "People's punishment" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
Afrasiyab Badal oglu Badalbeyli was a Soviet Azerbaijani composer, conductor and music critic. The author of music and the libretto of the first Azerbaijani Ballet and the first ballet in the Muslim East Giz Galasi .-Life:Afrasiyab Badalbeyli was born to Shusha natives Badal and Rahima Badalbeyli...
- Opera of "Golden Key" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
- Opera of "Bahadur and Sona" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
- Opera of "Aydın" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
- Opera of "Nizami" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
- Opera of "Ashig" Garib by Zulfugar Hajibeyov
Zulfugar Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani composer and a member of a family noted for its musical talents. He was one of the founders of the Azerbaijan Music Comedy Theater.-Biography:Hajibeyov was born in Shusha on 17 April 1884....
- Opera of "Star" by Fikret Amirov
Fikret Mashadi Jamil oghlu Amirov |Ganja]] - February 20, 1984, Baku) was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period.Fikret Amirov grew up in an atmosphere of Azerbaijani folk music...
- Opera of "Sevil" by Fikret Amirov
- Opera of "Tenderness" by Gara Garayev
Gara Abulfaz oghlu Garayev , also spelled as Qara Qarayev or Kara [Abulfazovich] Karayev, was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period...
- Opera of "Motherland" by Gara Garayev and Jovdat Hajiyev
- Opera of "Azad" (Free) by Jahangir Jahangirov
- Opera of "The Fate of the Singer" by Jahangir Jahangirov
- Opera of "Expectation" by Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh is an Azerbaijani composer and pianist, currently living in Germany. She is best known for her works which combine the musical tradition of the Azerbaijani mugam and 20th century Western compositional techniques, especially those of Arnold Schönberg and Gara Garayev...
- Opera of "Iskander and Shepherd" by Soltan Hajibeyov
Soltan Ismayil ogli Hajibeyov, was an Azerbaijani composer and People's Artist of the USSR.Soltan Hajibeyov was Uzeyir Hajibeyov's cousin. Soltan was a composer who contributed greatly to the formation of national symphonic music of Azerbaijan...
(children's opera)
- Opera of "Bridal Rock" by Shafiga Akhundova (b, 1824) (the first opera written by an Azerbaijani woman composer
- Opera of "Seven Beauties" by Eldar Mansurov
Eldar Bahram oglu Mansurov is an Azerbaijani musician, composer and songwriter.He is the son of musician Bahram Mansurov...
(rock-opera)
Ballet in Azerbaijan
- Ballet of "The Maiden Tower" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
Afrasiyab Badal oglu Badalbeyli was a Soviet Azerbaijani composer, conductor and music critic. The author of music and the libretto of the first Azerbaijani Ballet and the first ballet in the Muslim East Giz Galasi .-Life:Afrasiyab Badalbeyli was born to Shusha natives Badal and Rahima Badalbeyli...
- Ballet of "Smiling man" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
- Ballet of "Garaja" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli
- Ballet of "Tarlan" by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli (children ballet)
- Ballet of "Seven Beauties
Seven Beauties is a ballet, composed by Gara Garayev in 1947/48 to mark the 800th anniversary of classical poet Nizami Ganjavi. The ballet lasted in the repertoire of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater for many years, but was taken off the stage later on. A new version was...
" by Gara GarayevGara Abulfaz oghlu Garayev , also spelled as Qara Qarayev or Kara [Abulfazovich] Karayev, was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period...
- Ballet of "The Path of Thunder
The Path of Thunder is a ballet in three acts with libretto by Yuri Slonimsky, music by Gara Garayev and choreography by Konstantin Sergeyev. Inspired by eponymous novel of Peter Abrahams, the ballet tells the story of a forbidden love between a black teacher and a white girl. The ballet premiered...
by Gara GarayevGara Abulfaz oghlu Garayev , also spelled as Qara Qarayev or Kara [Abulfazovich] Karayev, was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period...
- Ballet of "Leyli and Majnun" by Gara Garayev
Gara Abulfaz oghlu Garayev , also spelled as Qara Qarayev or Kara [Abulfazovich] Karayev, was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period...
- Ballet of "The Arabian Nights" by Fikret Amirov
Fikret Mashadi Jamil oghlu Amirov |Ganja]] - February 20, 1984, Baku) was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period.Fikret Amirov grew up in an atmosphere of Azerbaijani folk music...
- Ballet of "Nizami" by Fikret Amirov
- Ballet of "The Legend of Nasimi" by Fikret Amirov
- Ballet of "Caspian conquerors" by Fikret Amirov
- Ballet of "The Legend of Love" by Arif Malikov
Arif Malikov is an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer. He graduated from the Baku Conservatory as a music composer in 1958. He shot to fame in 1961 when his first major composition "Legend of Love" was staged at the Kirov State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Leningrad and received...
- Ballet of "Stronger than Death" by Arif Malikov
- Ballet of "Twain" by Arif Malikov
- Ballet of "Poem of Two Hearts" by Arif Malikov
- Ballet of "Whites and blacks" by Khayyam Mirzezadeh
- Ballet of "Love and Death" by Polad Bulbuloglu
Polad Bülbüloğlu is a Soviet and Azerbaijani singer, actor, politician and diplomat. Bülbüloğlu is currently the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation.-Biography:...
Azeri Musicians
The most famous contemporary Azeri musicians are perhaps
jazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer
Aziza Mustafa ZadehAziza Mustafa Zadeh also known as The Princess of Jazz, or Die Prinzessin des Jazz or as Jazziza is an Azerbaijani singer, pianist and composer who plays a fusion of jazz and mugam with classical and Avant-garde influences...
and her father, Vagif Mustafa Zadeh, who are quite popular internationally in jazz circles.
Mugam singers:
- Jabbar Garyagdyoglu
- Kechachi oghlu Mahammad
- Seyid Shushinski
Seyid Shushinski , born Mir Mohsun Seyid Ibrahim oglu Shushinski , was an Azerbaijani folk singer .-Early career:...
- Khan Shushinski
Khan Shushinski , born Isfandiyar Aslan oglu Javanshir , was an Azerbaijani khananda .-Life:...
- Hajibaba Huseynov
Hajibaba Huseynov is one of the most famous Azeri mugham singers and teachers. He received the title of National Artist of Azerbaijan in 1991.-References:...
- Agakhan Abdullayev
- Arif Babayev
- Rubaba Muradova
Rubaba Khalil qizi Muradova , born Rubaba Ishragi , was an Azerbaijani opera and folk singer.-Life and career:...
- Mansum Ibrahimov
- Alim Qasimov
Alim Qasimov is an Azerbaijani musician, and one of the foremost mugam singers in Azerbaijan. He was awarded the International Music Council-UNESCO Music Prize in 1999, one of the highest international accolades for music. His music is characterised by his vocal improvisation and represents a move...
- Zahid Guliyev
- Sakina Ismayilova
Popular music singers
- Bulbul (Murtuza Mammadov)
- Rashid Behbudov
Rashid Behbudov was an Azerbaijani singer and actor. He sang in Azerbaijani, Russian, Persian, Turkish, Hindi, Armenian, Urdu and Bengali among other languages....
- Muslim Magomayev
- Lutfiyar Imanov
Lutfiyar Muslum oglu Imanov was an Azerbaijani opera singer .-Career:Lutfiyar Imanov started his career in the arts as a teenage actor at the Sabirabad State Drama Theatre. He graduated from the Zeynalli School of Music with a degree in vocal arts in 1957...
- Brilliant Dadashova
Brilliant Suleyman qizi Dadashova is an Azerbaijani pop singer.-Life:Brilliant Dadashova was born into a family of six children. Her mother Gizkhanim Dadashova was a famous accordion player who died in a car accident in 1966...
- Adalat Shukurov
- Sevda Alekperzadeh
Classic music singers
- Rashid Behbudov
Rashid Behbudov was an Azerbaijani singer and actor. He sang in Azerbaijani, Russian, Persian, Turkish, Hindi, Armenian, Urdu and Bengali among other languages....
- Novruz Mamedov
- Azer Zeynalov
- Flora Karimova
- Hasan Enami Olia
All time classics
- Zeynab Khanlarova
Zeynab Yahya qizi Khanlarova is an Azerbaijani folk singer.-Life and Career Development:Zeynab Khanlarova was born to Azerbaijani parents and is the youngest of the family's five children....
- Şövkət Ələkbərova
Shovkat Feyzulla qizi Alakbarova was an Azerbaijani singer.-Life and Career Development:Shovkat Alakbarova was born to Azeri parents - Feyzulla and Hokuma Alakbarov and was the third of the family's four children. Her mother was a professional tar player and her father, a labourer, was a folk...
Composers:
- Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
- Gara Garayev
Gara Abulfaz oghlu Garayev , also spelled as Qara Qarayev or Kara [Abulfazovich] Karayev, was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period...
- Fikret Amirov
Fikret Mashadi Jamil oghlu Amirov |Ganja]] - February 20, 1984, Baku) was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period.Fikret Amirov grew up in an atmosphere of Azerbaijani folk music...
- Ali Salimi
Ali Salimi , , was an Azerbaijani musician, composer and tar player. He had been based in Tehran for the last few decades where he made significant contribution to promotion and development of Azerbaijani music....
- Tofig Guliyev
Tofig Alakbar oglu Guliyev – Azerbaijani composer, pianist, conductor, People's Artist of the USSR.-Biography:Tofig Guliyev was born on November 7, 1917, in Baku, in the family of salary worker. He became a student of the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire when he was 12 years old due to his musical...
- Soltan Hajibeyov
Soltan Ismayil ogli Hajibeyov, was an Azerbaijani composer and People's Artist of the USSR.Soltan Hajibeyov was Uzeyir Hajibeyov's cousin. Soltan was a composer who contributed greatly to the formation of national symphonic music of Azerbaijan...
- Jahangir Jahangirov
Jahangir Shirgasht oglu Jahandirov – Soviet and Azerbaijani composer, conductor, choirmaster and People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR .-Biography:...
- Rauf Hajiyev
Rauf Soltan oglu Hajiyev -Soviet and Azerbaijani composer and politician. People’s artist of the USSR . He was Chairman of the Union of Composers of the Azerbaijan SSR, minister of culture of the Azerbaijan SSR .-Biography:...
- Emin Sabitoghlu
- Said Rustamov
Said Rustamov , born Mir-Jabbar Ali oglu Seyid-Rustamzadeh , was an Azerbaijani composer and conductor.-Life and contributions:...
- Arif Malikov
Arif Malikov is an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer. He graduated from the Baku Conservatory as a music composer in 1958. He shot to fame in 1961 when his first major composition "Legend of Love" was staged at the Kirov State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Leningrad and received...
- Frangiz Alizadeh
- Eldar Mansurov
Eldar Bahram oglu Mansurov is an Azerbaijani musician, composer and songwriter.He is the son of musician Bahram Mansurov...
- Javanshir Guliyev
- Khadija Zeynalova
Khadija Zeynalova Khadija Zeynalova Khadija Zeynalova (born 20 September 1975 Azerbaijan is an Azerbaijani composer.-Life:Her talent for music and composition was noticed by her parents in early childhood when she got passionate about music and started to compose at the age of 11...
- Jovdat Hajiyev
Ahmad Jovdat Ismayil oglu Hajiyev was one of the major Azerbaijani composers of the Soviet period. He is remembered for his monumental orchestral works, having been the first Azerbaijani to compose a symphony...
- Rahman Asadollahi
International Azerbaijani musicians and bands
Kamancheh players
- Habil Aliyev
Habil Aliyev is a prominent Azeri kamancheh player. His music has been widely appreciated in the Middle East and Europe.He is well versed in Persian traditional music and has played for many years at Tehran concert halls. He has numerous recording with the prominent Persian classical musician...
- Fakhraddin Dadashov
- Shafiga Eyvazova
- Arif Asadullayev
- Ismayil Hamidov
- Imamyar Hasanov
- Munis Sharifov
- Mirnazim Asadullayev
- Elshan Mansurov
- Gilman Salakhov
- Talat Bakikhanov
- Elman Badalov
Tar players
- Mirjavad Safarov
- Ramiz Guliyev
- Firuz Aliyev
- Mahmud Aliyev
- Bahram Mansurov
Bahram Meshadi Suleyman oglu Mansurov ) was a Soviet and Azerbaijani Tar player. He also served as People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR.-Biography:...
- Malik Mansurov
- Muhlid Muslumov
- Ahsan Dadashov
- Haji Mammadov
Haji Mammadov is a former officer of Crime Investigation Department of Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 11 people and kidnapping of 10.-The gang:...
- Aga salim abdullayev
Balaban players
- Alihan Samedov
Alihan Samedov is a musician known for playing wind instruments and Azerbaijan folk instruments.Alihan Samedov was born in Sumqayıt, Azeri SSR in 1964. Descending from a musician family, he completed his first and secondary education between the years 1971 and 1979. He received his music...
Oboe players
- Kamil Jalilov
Kamil Jalilov is a musician known for his master expertise playing wind instruments and Azerbaijani folk instruments....
Saz players
External links