Gàãà
Garayev
1
We
passed à way in several decades, which takes centuries
for others. In spite of this, we should
study the world experience more intensely.
But "this we are, and that is world
success" — to think so is à
misperception. As we are one part of this
world and our current activity is one part
of our mission on this Universe.
These words belong to one of the prominent figures
of Azerbaijani culture— composer Gara Garayev.
"I wish to see Azerbaijani music on the same
level as the most flourishing world music".
These words are à reflection of the composer
main aim and was the essence of his life'
s work.
It is necessary to look at the way of life of
this composer to better realize the difficulty
of the job he worked sî hard to complete.
Gara Garayev was born in February 5,
1918 in educated family.
His father Ebulfez Garayev was a famous pediatrician, doctor of sciences,
professor, and mother – Sona khanim, was well educated, having à strong inclination to poetry
and music, she was à very talented Azeri woman.
Garayev's early impressions are very rich. There
was à
place for music traditionally sung in Baku
villages, European classics, and at the
same time examples of 20th century art,
— Bartok's,
Shostakovich's,
Prokofyev's works. "West and East lived
close in my heart". In this word of
G.Garayev reflects the main features of
his thinking and outlook, the root of his
heroism.
The prominent artisan of the 20th century Uzeyir Hajibekov and great composer of the 20th century
Dmitri Shostakovich played à significant role in succeeding Garayev as à composer and person. G.Garayev
studied in U. Hajibeyov's class at the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire. Íå studied in depth the people' s music and found
the beauties of their rich origin in Hajibeyov's
class. G.Garayev said briefly and figuratively
about his Hajibeyov: "Íå fights for the protection of my national soul".
G.Garayev took advanced professional classes
under the supervision of Shostakovich, understanding
the necessity of conducting searches in
art and improvement, and joining the main
successes of world music.
G.Garayev began his career during à decisive period in Azerbaijani
music — in the last half of the 20th century.
During that period U. Hajibeyov investigated the
“Basics of Azerbaijani music” " which was focused on à system of lad-composition
and lad system of Azerbaijani music. The
results of that scientific research are
very important: Hajibeyov achieved great
success taking out the insuperable hindrance
between the Eastern and Western cultures,
and leading Azeri music to the International
level. But it was necessary to continue
the mission of U.Hajibeyov, create schools
founded for the promotion of new Azerbaijani
music to the world. On this new stage of
music history G.Garayev was able to communicate
the possibilities of organic synthesis of
national traditions with world art, melding
old and new.
The first works of Garayev — "Monument
of Tsarskoye selo" piano board
(1937) and having bright ethnographic character
"Soul melody" cantata are in contradiction
in type and style with each other. They
form the clear opinion of amplitude of the
composer's searches. Finding the common
moments between different poles of national
and universal tendencies became the main
aim of Garayev's activity.
In 1943 the composer wrote the First symphony.
The dignity of this artwork is great, which
founded the symphony genre in Azerbaijan.
Like his teacher Shostakovich, Garayev turned
to à war theme denying the traditional
4 parts structure, composing two part original
series, searching the common features among
1àá4ï1îïàáîï of Azerbaijani music and Western European polyphony
modern harmony. Critics estimated it like
brave "neoclassic" experiment
in style of Hindemit.
