Renowned composer Agshin Alizadeh
Agshin Aligulu oghlu Alizadeh was born on May 22, 1937, in Baku. After graduating from Bulbul Special Music School in Baku in 1955, he pursued a higher education in composition at the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Azerbaijan State Conservatory.
Agshin Alizadeh began his career as a teacher at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in 1963, where he worked in the composition department until 1972. He served as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union from 1979 to 1985 and as First Secretary from 1985 to 1990. Additionally, he was the artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic from 1991 to 1994. In 2007, he was elected Secretary of the Board of Directors at the 8th Congress of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union, holding that position until 2012. He was also elected deputy to the 11th convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Agshin Alizadeh consistently demonstrated a civic and intellectual stance on significant events in public life.
Agshin Alizadeh crafted brilliant pages in the annals of national culture with his art, characterized by a deep commitment to the centuries-old musical traditions of the Azerbaijani people, while masterfully drawing on the treasures of world musical art. His creative work, distinguished by its unique individual characteristics, aligns with the onset of a new stage in the evolution of Azerbaijan’s modern school of composition. Agshin Alizadeh, whose innate talent emerged in the early 1960s while still a student, produced many valuable works over nearly half a century. The artist's creative palette spans various musical genres and is rich and diverse. His ballets, cantatas, symphonies, and compositions for chamber, choir, and symphony orchestra brought Agshin Alizadeh considerable fame. He introduced new genres to the history of Azerbaijani music with the first national heroic ballet "Babak" and the series "Bayatılar" for unaccompanied choir. The music and songs he composed for films and plays also hold a special significance in the composer's oeuvre.
Agshin Alizadeh's artistic vision centers around celebrating the heroic past of the nation, love for the homeland, humanism, faith in life, and the spiritual elevation of humanity. The vibrancy of his nature paintings, vivid imagery, and melodic qualities—often inspired by national mugham—are characteristic of the composer's works. Agshin Alizadeh's musical heritage draws its strength from the profound depths of Azerbaijani folk music. He successfully employed modern compositional techniques and significantly contributed to the national music culture.
Agshin Alizadeh's noteable works include the ballets "Babək" ("Babak"), "Qafqaza səyahət" ("Journey to the Caucasus"), "Ümid vаlsı" ("Waltz of Hope"), as well as his "5-ci simfoniya" ("Symphony No. 5"), choral pieces such as "Bayatılar", and the cantatas "Təntənə" ("Celebration"), "Azərilər" ("Azeris"), "Ana torpaq" ("Motherland)", "Qədim lay-lay" ("Ancient Lullaby"). He composed for chamber orchestra with works like "Pastoral", "Aşıqsayağı" ("Alla Ashig" ), "Cəngi" (“Warlike”), along with "Kənd suitası" ("Village suite"), "Uşaq suitası" ("Child suite"), sonata for piano, and titles like "Dastan" ("Epic Story"), "Qədim oyunlar" ("Old Games"), "Portret" ("Portrait"), and a choreographic symphony, among others. Additionally, he created music for over 50 feature films, animated films, and theatrical performances.
The state has always recognized Agshin Alizadeh's contributions to the field of music. The prominent composer has been honored with the title of People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1987), the Azerbaijan SSR State Prize (1978), the "Shohrat " Order (1997), and the "Sharaf " Order (2012).
The great composer Agshin Alizadeh died in Baku on May 3, 2014.
Recommended literature:
- Aqşin Əlizadə : publisistik irs, məqalələr, müsahibələr / Azərbaycan Respublikası Mədəniyyət və Turizm Nazirliyi ; tərt.-red. L. Ş. Hüseynova, rəy. F. Ə. Əlizadə. - Bakı : Avrasiya Press, 2012. - 524 s.
- Aqşin Əlizadə - xatirələr işığında : esse, oçerk, portret cizgiləri və foto sənədlər toplusu / F. Qarayev, O. Rəcəbov, G. Abdullazadə [et al.] ; tərt.-red.: L. Ş. Hüseynova, F. R. Nəbiyeva. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2024. - 360 s.
- Dadaşzadə, Zümrüd Araz qızı. Aqşin Əlizadə: monoqrafiya /Z.A. Dadaşzadə; red. R. Zöhrabov. - Bakı: Şur, 1992. - 32 s.