Habil Aliyev

He was born in the village of Uchqovaq in the Agdash region of the Azerbaijan Republic on May 28, 1927. At the age of 7, he started his seven years of primary education at school No. 3 in the center of the region. 

After completing the seventh grade and music school, Habil entered a pedagogical school. Along with studying at the pedagogical school, he played the kamancha at the Agdash State Drama Theater of Najaf bey Vezirov. At the same time, he was a member of the dance group in the Agdash Pioneer House, winning a showcase competition held in Baku in 1944; the contest was recorded on tape, and is still held in the Central Archives.

 In 1952 Habil Aliyev came to Baku and entered the kamancha faculty of the secondary professional Music School of Asef Zeynalli. He started to learn the secrets of mugham art from the prominent player of tar Gurban Pirimov and famous singer Khan Shushinski. In 1953 he started accompanying a dance ensemble and then playing kamancha within a trio band in the State Philharmonic society of Azerbaijan.

 Habil Aliyev’s first TV concert took place in 1961. The Segah, performed with a new technique, caused wide discussions among music fans. In the late 1950s-early 1960s Habil Aliyev developed as a unique master of kamancha and became popular among the people. The compact disks with Habil Aliyev’s Azeri mugams and national songs was also produced in such big countries as the USA, France, Japan, Italy and Greece. 

For his contribution in art Habil Aliyev received the honorary title of the Honoured Artist on June 29, 1964 and the People Artist on January 11, 1978. The world known symphonic work Habilsayaghi, which the famous composer Firangiz Alizade devoted to the prominent artist, gained success in the great concert palaces of a number of countries.