National Music Day celebrated
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijan is celebrating National Music Day on September 18,
dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the founder of its national
classical music, Uzeyir Hajibeyli.
A solemn ceremony to mark the Day was held in front of the Uzeyir
Hajibeyli monument in Baku and was attended by many prominent
public and art figures, students and teachers.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Adalat Veliyev, Rector of Baku Music Academy Farhad Badalbeyli, Rector of Azerbaijan National Conservatory Siyavush Karimi, and Chairman of the Azerbaijan Union of Composers Firangiz Alizade gave speeches, highlighting the creativity of the outstanding composer and his contribution to the national art.
The musical program was presented by the Azerbaijan State Choir under the direction of Gulbaji Imanova and the Military Brass Band, conducted by Yusif Akhundzade, who performed unforgettable songs from Hajibeyli’s compositions.
Meanwhile, the seventh International Music Festival, dedicated to the 130th anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibeyli will take place in Baku between September 18 and 28.
The festival will be attended along with Azerbaijani artists, many famous musicians and groups from Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Syria, Canada, Italy, and Turkey.
The Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, Georgian Chamber Orchestra, Russian Woodwind Quintet, as well as Italian pianist Michele Campanella, Oleg Pokhanovskiy, Estonian pianist Tanel Yoamets, Syrian clarinet musician Kinan Azmeh, Estonian violinist Miina Jarvi and many others will entertain guests during the festival.
Uzeir Hajibeyli was the very musician to introduce extraordinary innovations to Azerbaijani music. Western and eastern styles were mixed in the works of Hajibeyli. He adapted elements of Azerbaijani folk music to classical European traditions.
Using this method, Hajibeyli wrote the first Azerbaijani opera
"Leyli and Majnun" in 1908, based on the poem of the same name by
Azerbaijani poet Fuzuli.
He was a founder of the opera genre not only in Azerbaijan, but
also in the near East and created the first Muslim opera in the
Islamic world.
Hajibeyli is also the founder of the Azerbaijani opera school.
The outstanding composer wrote the score for the national anthem of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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