Vasif Adigozalov

Vasif Adigozalov (1935-2006)  was one of Azerbaijan's most distinguished composers. Vasif Adigozalov excelled both as composer and performer. He majored in piano as well as composition at the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire (now Baku Music Academy).

 His piano professor was Simuzar Guliyeva and throughout his career, he gave numerous concerts on stage as a pianist and accompanist. In the early 1960s, he accompanied legendary Azerbaijani singer Rashid Behbudov (1915-1989). Later on, he pursued a solo career and performed his own pieces. Vasif Adigozalov is best known for incorporating traditional modal “mugam” music into his works - both orchestral and solo pieces. 

This could be expected, since he was the son of Zulfugar Adigozalov (1898-1963), a prominent "khananda" singer of Azerbaijani mugam. Vasif Adigozalov was greatly influenced by Gara Garayev (1918-1982), the distinguished Azerbaijani composer and teacher with whom Vasif Adigozalov had studied at the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire in 1953-1959. 

Although Vasif Adigozalov had become seriously ill in the last few years of his life, he continued to carry out his responsibilities both at the Azerbaijan Composers' Union where he was Chairman (1990-2006), as well as the Music Academy where he had taught since 1961, and where he had chaired the Department of Choral Conducting (1992-2006).

 Vasif Adigozalov enjoyed official recognition as the recipient of Azerbaijan's highest national awards – People's Artist of Azerbaijan (Khalg Artisti, 1989), State Prize (Dovlat Mukafati, 1990), Glory (Shohrat Ordeni, 1995), and Independence Orders (Istiglal Ordeni, 2005).

 Had Vasif Adigozalov only written "Carnation" (1960), which dosens of Azerbaijani singers have performed in various arrangements, it would have been sufficient enough for him to assume an honorable place in the history of Azerbaijani music and culture. Vasif Adigozalov wrote "Carnation" at the age of 25, as a tribute to “Natavan” (1832-1897), a famous 19th century poetess and ruler of Karabagh - a mountainous region known for being a cultural center in Azerbaijan. Vasif Adigozalov's works continue to be appreciated and performed by Azerbaijani pianists of all generations

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Operas: The Dead (1963), Natavan (2003).Operettas: Haji Gara (with Ramiz Mustafayev) (1958), The Daily Scenes (1962), Granny's Happiness (1971), Let's Get Divorced and Married Later (1976), The Devil Eye (1985). 

Oratorios: Land of Fire (1987), Karabagh Shikastasi (1989), Chanakkale (1998), Caravan of Sadness (1999). Cantatas: My Novruz (1994), Solemn Cantata (1998), Symphonic Music, Four symphonies (1958, 1970, 1973, 1998-Segah). Symphonic Music: Four symphonies (1958, 1970, 1973, 1998-Segah), Symphonic poems: Heroic (1957), Africa Struggles (1961), Stages (1968); Festive Overture (1978), Poem for Four Pianos and Orchestra (1982), Four Concertos for Piano and Orchestra (1961, 1964, 1985, 1994), Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1961), Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1990). 

Instrumental Music: Sonatina for Cello and Piano (1957), Sonata for Piano (1957), Scherzo for Violin and Piano (1958), Piano Pieces for Children (1959), 24 Piano Pieces for Children (1961), Poem Apotheosis: Two Pianos and Orchestra (1980), Sonata for Cello (1987), Mugam Sonata for Organ (1988), 24 Preludes for Piano (1995). More than 150 songs and romances. Soundtracks for plays, documentaries and films.