Adil Geray Mammadbeyli
Adil Geray Mammadbeyli was born on 13th of May in 1919 in Baku and died on 13th of December in 1973 in Baku. Tarzen (tar player), conductor, compositor, pedagogue was awarded to the rank of the Honored artist in 1959. In 1940 finished the Azerbaijan State Music School, in 1940-1948 years got education in the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire department of folk music. He was Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s student.
Mugam classes he got from khanende Ahmad Bakykhanov. He worked since 1937 in Huseyngulu Sarabaski’s class as accompanist, since 1938 in the Azerbaijan Television and Radio orchestra as a leader. Since 1940 also worked as a pedagogue in the Azerbaijan State Music School according to the tar speciality. He was the teacher of a lot of famous tar players. He is the author of several works wrote for tar and also “Etudes for tar”, “Baghchakurd”, “Gaytaghy”, “Jangi”, “Safi-Kurd”, “Shahnazsayaghy”, “Gulustan”.
They are taking special place in educational and concert repertoires.In “Etudes for tar” collection on the bases of seven mugams “Rast”, “Shur”, “Shushter”, “Segah”, “Chahargah”, “Bayaty Shiraz”, “Mahur Hindi” were composed etudes. The editor and the author of the epilogue is Uzeyir Hajibeyov. This collection is widely used in education of tar.
Mirza Faraj Rzayev
Mirza Faraj Rzayev was born on 15th of March in 1847 in Baku and died in 27th of March in 1927 in Baku. Tarzen’s (tar player) performing art closely bound with the Baku mugam performing school. Tar performing he learned from Shirazly Ali, then to improve his knowledge moved and lived in Iran for some time and owned deep secrets of mugam art, got acquainted with the old music treaties. Mirza Faraj was one of the active members of Mashadi Malik Mansurov’s music meetings. He worked with a lot of the well-known khanendes (singers).
Jeyran Hashymova
She was in born on 8th of March in 1934 in Baku. She is one of the well-known tarzens (tar player) and was awarded to the rank of the Popular artist of Azerbaijan. Jeyran Hashymova got her education in the Azerbaijan State Music School in 1952-1956 years. Jeyran Hashymova has been working in the Azerbaijan State Music School as a teacher. She was the concert-master of saz (stringed music instrument) group in folk musical instruments orchestra named after S.Rustamov. She created “Lale” ensemble consisting of women in 1964. Ensemble has been on tour to many countries.
Ahsan Dadashov
Ahsan Dadashov was born on 16th of August in 1924 in Baku and died on 29th of May in 1976 in Baku. Tarzen (tar player), the Honored artist of Azerbaijan was Mansur Mansurov’s continuer. He was one the virtuous performer of mugams and folk song on tar and ud (also stringed musical instrument). He was also the creator of several rangs (musical term) and tasnifs. As the member of ensemble of the eminent singer Rashid Behbudov he was on tour to many countries of the world and represented Azerbaijan music. In 1960 established Folk Music Instrument Ensemble attached to ASRT and was its director till his death. Now, “Khatire” folk music instrumental ensemble named after Ahsan Dadashov. He was teacher of many famous tarzens (tar players).
Mammadaga Muradov
Mammadaga Muradov was born in 1921 in Baku and died in 1969 in Baku. Tarzen (tar player) was Gurban Primov’s alumni and continuer of his traditions. He was soloist of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic society and accompanied Khan Shushinski, Zulfi Adygozelov and were recorded on vinyls.
Ramiz Guliyev
Ramiz Guliyev was born April 30 in 1947 in Agdam. Tarzen, the Popular artist of Azerbaijan Republic, professor got Medal of Honor in 2007. He got education in the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire in the department of baton and tar performing. Ramiz Guliyev worked as a pedagogue in the faculty of folk musical instruments and in 1990-2000 years was the headmaster of this department.
In 1964-1994 years was the soloist of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic society and the State concert unity. He won the first prize in the musicians’ Transcaucasia festival held in 1974 and laureate of in the variety artists’ V All-Union contest held in Moscow. In 1988 he was awarded to the special diploma in the International Folklore Festival held in the USA by the UNESCO. In 1998 he successfully performed in the Azerbaijani Cultural Days held in London.
Gurban Pirimov
He was born in October 30 in 1880 in Gulably village of Agdam region and died in August 29 in 1965 in Baku. He got the education from the well-known tarzen (tar performer) Sadygjan. Gurban Primov according to the classical traditions developed the mugam performance in the new period. So Gurban Primov’s creativity differs for its originality. “Mahur Hindi”, “Chahargah”, “Kharij Segah”, “Shur”, “Zabul Segah”, “Choban Bayaty” in his performance were entered to the musical treasury.
Since 1905 together with khanende (singer) Jabbar Garyagdyoglu and kamancha performer Sasha Oganezashvili established mugam trio and worked for 20 years and gave concerts in several foreign countries, such as Russia, Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Middle East.
He performed as soloist-tarzen (tar performer) in Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s “Leyli and Majnun” opera, the first Azerbaijani opera.He grew up a big khanende and tarzen (tar performer) generation.Haji Mammadov, Mammadaga Muradov, Zarif Qayibov, Aliaga Guliyev, Habib Bayramov, Sarvar Ibrahimov, Xosrov Farajov and others were his alumni.
Mirza Sadygjan
Mirza Sadyg Asad оglu, Sadygjan was born in 1846 in Shusha and died in Shusha in 1902. When he was 17-18 Mirza Sadyg learned to play a pipe, flute and kamancha, received tar lessons at a class of known musician Mirza Ali Asker Garabagi. It was the popular virtuosic tar player (tarzen) in Transcaucasia and in Iran. He accompanied on tar known khanendes (singers) Hajy Husu, Mashadi Isi, Keshtazly Hashym, Abdulbagi Zulalov and Djabbar Garjagdy oglu. He acted in “the East concert” in Shusha. In 1890 gave concerts in many cities of Azerbaijan, Ashgabat, Tehran, in Istanbul with the ensemble created by him.
In 1897 he was the founder of musical part of one act performance “Majnun over a coffin of Leyli” in Shusha. In 1875-78 changed structure of tar, according to the Azerbaijan national music and mugam, adjusted a sound line of tar, constructed them in a chromatic order. He added to tar onomatopoeia and the root strings, which number was increased from 5 to 11. He has added a wooden rack in a wooden bowl in order to stop a tension of tar. In the first He firstly performed tar on chest which before was performed on knees. Sadygjan improved style of performance on tar and lifted it to the highest level of solo instrument. Created by him model of tar, was widespread in Transcaucasia, Dagestan, Central Asia and in Iran. He was known for his appointing membrane “zabul”, adding new sections “Segah”, “Mahur” to mugam. He is the author of many tasnifs, songs and rengs. Tar performers (tarzens) as Gurban Primov, Mashadi Zeynal, Malybeyli Hamid, Mashadi Djamil Amirov, Shirin Akhundov became alumni of school Mirza Sadyg Asad oglu.
Haji Mammadov
Haji Mammadov was born on April 28 in 1920 in Shamakhy and died on August 2 in 1981 in Baku. He was awarded to the rank of the Popular artist in 1963. To play on tar learned freely. Haji Mammadov started to work in the Folk Musical Instruments Orchestra in 1930-1948 years, since 1949 was the soloist of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic society.
He originally and masterly performed mugams and composers’ works. Mugams as “Orta Mahur”, “Segah”, “Chahargah”, “Zabul”, “Shur”, folk music and composers’ works are saved in the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Fund. Haji Mammadov accompanied the well-known khanendes as Bulbul, Seyid Shushinski, Zulfi Adygozalov. He was on tours to several foreign countries as Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Iran, Syria, Algeria etc.
Elchin Hashimov
He graduated from A.Zeynally Baku Music College in 1992 and the class of tar of National Music Instruments Faculty of the Baku Music Academy in 1997. He starts his working career as a teacher of Baku Musci College. Presently, he also works at the Azerbaijan State Music Conservatory. Since 1999, he’s been employed by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
He demonstrates high level of professionalism in such performances like ‘Leyli and Majnun,’ ‘Ashig Garib,’ ‘Gelin Gayasy,’ ‘Shah Ismayil’ operas and in solo party of Niyazi’s ‘Rast’ ballet. E.Hashimov has a very active concert activity in composition of the Mugam trios including such Mugam masters like People’s Artists Mansum Ibrahimov, Nazaket Teymurova, Aygun Bayramova and others.
As a skillful master of playing tar he successfully represents national music arts in many countries of the world, such as USA, France, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Holland, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and others. In 2007, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Republic.
Mohlet Muslumov
M. Muslumov was born in 1954. M.Muslumov graduated from National Music Instruments Faculty of the Hajibeyov Azerbaijan State Conservatory with specialty of tar-player. In 1975 he was soloist in the S.Rustamov Orchestra of National Music Instruments, in 1988 – soloist in J.Garyagdy Mugam Trio of the M.Maghomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic society, in 1988 – Senior Teacher of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. Presently, he is Docent of Mugam Chair at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory.
He is Art Director of the A.Bakikhanov National Music Instruments Orchestra of the State Television and Radio JSC.M.Muslumov represents Azerbaijan national music during a long period of time with great skills and mastership. His performances on various international festivals were extremely successful. M.Muslumov was highly appreciated as performer of Azerbaijan music in Turkey, Russia, France, USA, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Scotland, Belgium, Hungary, Thailand, Israel, India, Tunis, Morocco, Poland, Romania and in numerous cities of the former Soviet Union.
Over 20 compact disks recorded in foreign countries. His records were included to the funds of national and foreign radio stations. M.Muslumov was awarded the title of Honored Artist in 2000, People’s Artist in 2005. He is a President Scholar since 2006.
Zamiq Aliyev
Z.Aliyev graduated from Azerbaijan State Culture and Arts University. In 1970, he is tar player in Azerbaijan State Philharmonic society.
He’s been to more than 50 countries of the world successfully representing Azerbaijan folk music and Mugams. In 1997, his student Simara Imanova has won for the first time the Grand Prix of ‘The Orient Melodies’ Festival in Samargand, Uzbekistan. In 1998, Z.Aliyev was awarded the title of Honored Artist and in 2006 – People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Republic.
Presently, Z.Aliyev is Docent of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts .
Valeh Alekberov
Valeh Alekberov was born in Baku in 1950. He received his education in A.Zeynally Music College in 1970-1979 from prominent tar-players Bahram Mansurov and Ahmed Bakikhanov.
In 2007, he completed his studies in tar-playing in Azerbaijan National Conservatory. He gave concerts in a number of foreign countries.
Firuz Aliyev
Firuz Aliyev was born in 1950 in Baku. His fisrt stpes in art it he has made with the help of the master of art Ahmed Bakihanov. After graduating from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in 1975, he began his career in the Philharmonic society of Azerbaijan Republic. Later he starts to work in the association “Azerconcert” and in the Azerbaijan state company of Television and Radio. Firuz Aliyev was learning the art from Ahmed Bakikhanov, Aliaga Guliyev, Ahsan Dadashov and became their worthy successor.
Firuz Aliyev adequately represented our national culture in such countries and world continents, as Germany, Austria, America, Turkey, India, Afghanistan, Jordan, Africa, Czechoslovakia, Iran, Israel, Canada, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. He is occupied with the pedagogical activity in the Azerbaijan National Conservatory. He was awarded to the rank of National artist of Azerbaijan Republic.
Bahram Mansurov
Tar player Bahram Mashadi Suleyman bay oglu Mansurov was born on 12 February 1911. He began his professional career in 1929, performing with the Azerbaijan State Orchestra of the East and later with Azerbaijani Radio’s Traditional Instruments Orchestra. He was a soloist at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic and accompanied mugam singers such as S. Qaryaghdi oglu, H. Sarabski and S. Shushinski. The scores of Bahram Mansurov’s performances of Jahargah (1970) and Rast (1978) mugams have been preserved. His renditions of the mugams Bayati-Shiraz, Humayun, Shur and Bayati-kurd were recorded for the first time with UNESCO support. At the age of 19 Bahram Mansurov was invited by Muslum Magomayev to be a tar soloist at the traditional instruments orchestra and then the State Opera and Ballet Theatre. On the opera stage, Bahram Mansurov worked with the stars of mugam, including Huseynqulu Sarabski, Yavar Kalantarli, Huseynaga Hajibababayov, Alovsat Sadiqov and Haqiqat Rzayeva. He attracted the likes of Rubaba Muradova, Sara Qadimova, Abulfat Aliyev, Gulkhar Hasanova, Zeynab Khanlarova, Mais Salmanov, Bakir Hashimov, Qulu Asgarov, Arif Babayev, Nazakat Mammadova and Baba Mirzayev to the theatre and worked on their performances. Bahram Mansurov is the first Azerbaijani musician whose performances of mugam were recorded by UNESCO on vinyl and CD and distributed worldwide. He represented Azerbaiajn at international symposiums in Samarkand in 1978 and 1983. After Sadiqjan, Bahram Mansurov was the only tar player to preserve and popularize the traditions of classical Azerbaijani mugam. His renditions of all mugams, daramads, diringa, tasnifs and rangs were notated by his son, composer Eldar Mansurov. Bahram Mansurov died on 14 May 1985.