The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range.
Mugam from Azerbaijan – Mystical Songs
The mugam classical music of Azerbaijan (similar to the related Arab-Persian maqam) is shaped by the complex modal system that bears the same name.
The repertoire is played not only at weddings but also at aristocratic musical evenings. It is performed with only a singer, a drummer, a tar player, and a performer of the plucked viola known as the kemanche.
The repertoire today comprises a dozen principal suites. As classical poetry is a central element of composition, the voice is considered to be mugam’s most important instrument. A breathtaking range of vocal techniques, from exacting parlando to the most intense ornamentation, are employed to evoke the rich meanings of the texts. (source: Aygun Baylar)
Azerbaijani Musicians:
Alihan Samedov
Alim Qasimov
Askar Alakbarov
Chingiz Sadykhov
Fargana Qasimova
Imamyar Hasanov
Rahman Asadollahi
Rufat Hasanov
Sabina Rakcheyeva
Yaghob Zoroofchi
Azerbaijani Musical Instruments
Azerbaijani musical instruments include nagara (drum); tulum-zurna (bagpipe); balaban (cylindrical oboe); zurna (shawm); and tutek (duct flute).
Azerbaijani Music Books
Music of Azerbaijan: From Mugham to Opera by Aida Huseynova. Indiana University Press, 2016. ISBN-10: 0253019451, ISBN-13: 978-0253019455.
