"Arshin
Mal Alan"
2
Parties
of Asker and Gulchohra are diverse and wide-ranged.
Image of major hero, dreaming about great
love is expressed in the aria
from the first act. The words are from
the famous ghazal of great Azerbaijan poet
Fizuli. In the second
act Asker is quite different: he is excited,
resolute, happy, and enamored. First
Gulchohra’s aria from the second act is
full of melancholy, pensiveness, and expectations.
She dreams about real fine love, and these
feelings are expressed in the next aria from
the same act. The music of this area expresses
inspired impulse, relaxation, and desire of
freedom.
The
next two vocal units – aria
of III act and weeping-aria
from the IV act, both return us to the
primary mood of the heroine. They as though
symbolize the sad fate of Azerbaijan woman
of those times.
Images
of other heroes are expressed as genre and manner
art. These are jolly songs and dances, inputting
vividness, merrymaking, and comic colouring
into the scenic events. They are songs of minor
characters, duets, and comic sketch where servants
declare of love: Jahan's
couplets, Suleiman's
song, Jahan,
Suleiman and Veli's couplets and dance,
Asya’s
couplets and dance,
Sultan-bey's
song, Vely
and Telly's duet.
Activity
in “Arshin Mal Alan” develops very dynamically,
there is no background or commenting items.
Sole chorus of girls recreates national aroma
and spirit. Composer delicately reproduces
inflexions of Azerbaijan folk dances and songs.
Inflexion of Azerbaijan folk song “Galanin
dibinde” are heard in chorus
of girls of II act, song “Janlar ichinde
janim” – in Sultan-bey’s aria, inflexion of
“Terekeme” – Asya’s dance, and inflexions
of song “Boynunda var sarilig” – in major
melody of the overture.
Uzeir Hajibeyov created bright and original
vocal style in his music comedy. This style
combines tunes of folk songs and mugam. European
classic tradition of cantilena and national
melodies are gone well together. This innovative
achievement of Hajibeyov, combined
with effervescent intrigue caused really world
success of “Arshin Mal Alan”.
The
scenic life of “Arshin
Mal Alan” is incredibly gorgeous. The comedy’s
premiere was held in Tagiyev’s Theater, Baku,
on October 25, 1913. The following actors
were performers:
Hussein Gulu Sarabsky (Asker), A.Agdamsky
(Gulchohra), A. Hussein-zadeh (Sultan-bey),
A. Olenskaya (Asya), H. Husseynov (Vely),
Gulsabah – khanum- (Jahan). Hussein Arablinsky,
outstanding Azerbaijan actor and producer,
headed the performance.
After splendid premiere, “Arshin Mal Alan” started its triumphal parade
on the stages of Trans Caucasus, Russia, and
then all over the world. “Arshin Mal Alan”
was translated into Russian, Georgian, Uzbek,
Armenian, English, Persian, Turkish, Arabian,
Polish, Bulgarian, and Chinese – 66 languages
in total.
Popularity
of “Arshin Mal Alan” was phenomenal. Here it is
one of the numerous facts: they named cafes,
restaurants, shops, etc. “Arshin Mal Alan”
at the Caucasus. In 1915, in Tiflis (Georgia),
there was performance of “Arshin Mal Alan”
in four languages (Azerbaijan, Russian, Georgian,
and Armenian) at one and the same day simultaneously
(chronicle of theatrical life).
There were film versions
of “Arshin
Mal Alan”.
The first attempt was carried out in 1916.
The following actors performed the major roles
in this film:
A. Hussein-zadeh (Sultan-bey), Hussein Gulu
Sarabsky (Asker), A.Agdamsky (Gulchohra), Y. Narimanov (Jahan), M.Aliyev (Suleyman).
Trio of famous singer Jabbar Karyagdioglu
supported the silent film. They performed
music by “living voices”.
Fortune of the second film version of “Arshin Mal Alan” was scandalous. Producer
from St.Petersburg G. Belyakov made it without
permission of its author Uzeir Hajibeyov.
The film was not allowed to distribution after
Composer’s active protest.
In USA in 1937 they made film version of “Arshin Mal Alan”, issued by Armenian
producer R. Magalyan, where even name of Uzeir
Hajibeyov, author of music and libretto was
not mentioned.
At the time of the World
War II, they made a decision to produce music
feature film “Arshin Mal Alan”. It appeared at the
screens of the former USSR in 1945. Then it
was distributed worldwide. The following actors
performed the major roles in this film: R. Behbudov (Asker), L. Javanshirova (Gulchohra), A. Hussein-zadeh (Sultan-bey), L. Abdullayev (Vely),
F.Mehraliyeva (Telly), M. Kalantarli (Jahan). Niyazi was music editor of
the film, R. Takhmasib and N. Leschenko were
produces, L.Arakishiyev, and M.Dadashov, cameramen
– L. Atakishiyev and M. Dadashov, author of
scenario –Sabit Rahman. The State Prize awarded
the film in 1946.
New coloured music film “Arshin Mal Alan” was made at “Azerbaijanfilm”
studio in 1965:
authors of scenario – T. Tagi-zadeh and M. Dadashov,
producer – T. Tagi-zadeh, music editor – F.
Amirov, major roles: L.Shikhlinskaya (Gulchohra), H. Mammadov (Asker), H. Yagizarov (Suleiman), A. Gurbanov (Sultan-bey), N. Melikova (Jahan) and others.
In 1972, Moscow firm “Melodiya” issued recording of “Arshin Mal Alan” in Azerbaijan, Russian,
and Persian languages. There is a lot of literature
as reviews, comments in mass media, scientific
publications in magazines, books, and booklets.
Music star of “Arshin
Mal Alan”
is shining within world arts for 90 years.
Music history of romantic and affecting love
of Gulchohra and Asker excites and attract
the listeners from all over the world.
