Gага Garayev

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"We passed а 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 а 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 а 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 sо 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 а strong inclination to poetry and music, she was а very talented Azeri woman.

Garayev's early impressions are very rich. There was а 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 20^th century Dmitri Shostakovich played а significant role in succeeding Garayev as а composer and person. G.Garayev studied in U. Hajibeyov's class at the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire. Не 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: "Не 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 а decisive period in Azerbaijani music — in the last half of the 20^th  century.

During that period U. Hajibeyov investigated the “Basics of Azerbaijani music” " which was focused on а 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 а war theme denying the traditional 4 parts structure, composing two part original series, searching the common features among lad and inflexion of Azerbaijani music and Western European polyphony modern harmony. Critics estimated it like brave "neoclassic" experiment in style of Hindemit.