House-Museum of Gara Garayev opens in Baku

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

A House-Museum of the legendary Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev has solemnly opened in Baku.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Akhmedov, Head of the Humanitarian Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Farah Aliyev, Azerbaijan Minister of Culture Abulfaz Garayev, prominent public figures, representatives of science, literature, culture, art, relatives and friends of the eminent composer.

Addressing the event, the Azerbaijan Minister of Culture Abulfaz Garayev stressed that in accordance with the decree of President Ilham Aliyev on holding the 100th anniversary of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev, various jubilee events are held both in the country and abroad.

The minister stressed that the International Day of Music is celebrated in the world today, in connection with which many countries hold various events.

It was noted that the parents of Gara Garayev lived in this house, an outstanding composer spent his childhood and youth here. He composed his first works in this very house.

The chairman of the Azerbaijan Union of Composers Firangiz Alizade and the chairman of the Azerbaijan Union of Writers Anar Rzayev emphasized that the works of the composer are included in the treasury of world culture.

Then the guests got acquainted with the exposition of the House-Museum of Gara Garayev. The excursion was conducted by the daughter of the great Azerbaijani composer Zuleikha Garayeva-Bagirova.

The museum's collection includes  personal  belongings, posters, programs, photographs, books and other exhibits dedicated or belonging to Gara Garayev. The House-Museum of Gara Garayev operates as part of the State Museum of Musical Culture.

At the event, a well-known composer, teacher Faraj Garayev was presented with a certificate of the People’s Artist of Azerbaijan and a badge.

It should be noted that in accordance with the relevant decree of the President lham Aliyev, Faraj Garayev was awarded the honorary title "People's Artist" for his contribution to the development of the Azerbaijani culture.

The certificate of the People’s Artist of Azerbaijan and the badge to Faraj Garayeva presented the head of the humanitarian policy department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Farah Aliyeva.

Having synthesized Eastern and Western musical traditions, Garayev's works cover essentially all genres. The works by the legend are performed all over the world.

He knew Azerbaijani folk music very well and loved to sing.

In 1938, Garayev composed his first musical piece, a cantata "The Song of the Heart" to the poem by Rasul Rza. It was performed in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater in the same year. He was only 20 years old at the time.

Garayev returned to Baku in 1941. He began teaching students at Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society.

In 1952, under the direction of the choreographer P. A. Gusev, Garayev's "Seven Beauties" ballet was staged at the Azerbaijani Theater of Opera and Ballet. Based on Nizami Ganjavi's famous poem, "Seven Beauties", it became the first Azerbaijani ballet and opened a new chapter in the history of classical music of Azerbaijan.

His ballet, "Path of Thunder", staged in 1958, was dedicated to racial conflicts in South Africa. In the same year, he wrote the score for the documentary film" A Story About the Oil Workers of the Caspian Sea", directed by Roman Karmen and set at the Oil Rocks.

Through his life, Garayev wrote nearly 110 musical pieces, including ballets, operas, symphonic and chamber pieces, solos for piano, cantatas, songs and marches, and rose to prominence not only in Azerbaijan, but also worldwide.

He brilliantly juxtaposed features of Mugham with jazz, blues, African music, European counterpoint styles, and developments related to the 20th century Western music such as the 12-tone technique.

Garayev died on May 13, 1982 in Moscow at the age of 64.

The composer leaved behind a legacy of music that will be felt for generations to come. The memory of great composer will always live in the hearts of Azerbaijani people.