Agabaji Rzayeva: Azerbaijan's first female composer

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

The 20th century is fairly considered an epoch of renessiance for Azerbaijani music, representing a majestic blend of different oriental and western genres. This is the very brilliant period of national music art, which bestowed a number of prominent musicians and saw numerous milestone events.

First national opera, ballet, Symphony Orchestra, and composer school were established in the country namely in that time. A number of prominent, musicians, singers and composers shined on Azerbaijan’s cultural arena, which could make a revolution in the history of national music art. Agabaji Rzayeva was one of them with a special place among them.

Agabaji is the first professional female composer in Azerbaijan, as indeed in the whole Muslim East, who with her pleasant melodies and heart songs wrote a peculiar page in the history of the national music.

British historian Matt O'Brien, preparing the Biographical Directory of the Azerbaijani composer, wrote that “Agabadji Rzayeva was the first professional female composer in Azerbaijan, and this makes her a historically significant figure in the history of Azerbaijani music.”

Born in 1912 in Baku Rzayeva entered the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, where she became one of the most beloved student of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, who believed the outstanding musical talent to break out a revolution in the Azerbaijani music.

Despite her family members were tied up with music, the father of Agabaji was against her music education initially, but the meeting with Hajibeyli played a crucial role in her musical career.

The composer’s very beloved children’s song “Kukla” (“Doll”) is considering one of the unique masterpieces in the national musical treasure.

Her compositions for the minors written in the language understandable to children and involving them into the beauty of the melodies were greatly welcomed by younger generation.

Although Rzayeva’s creative heritage also includes musical and theatrical, chamber music and choral compositions, but the most outstanding achievements of the composer associated with songs and romances genres, which became classics of the country’s music.

Her first composition entitled "Young patriots march" played significant role in her creativity.

Rzayeva was very lucky composer, as her compositions were performed by very outstanding Azerbaijani singers such as Bulbul, Shovkat Alakbarova, and Firangiz Ahmadova.