A student of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, a teacher of Gara Garayev — today is the birthday of a genius who lived a short life

The first romances in the history of Azerbaijani music are associated with the name of Asaf Zeynally. Today marks 115 years since the birth of the brilliant composer.

As BAKU.WS reminds, Asaf Zeynally was born on April 5, 1909, in Derbent.

In 1926, he graduated from the Baku Music College, and in 1931 — from the composition department of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory (in the class of Uzeyir Hajibekov).

In 1929-1931, Asaf Zeynally headed the music department of the Turkic Workers' Theater. In 1928-1932, he taught at the music school affiliated with the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. Among his students were Gara Garayev and Tofig Guliyev.

A most talented composer, Asaf Zeynally is the founder of the romance genre in Azerbaijani music.

His romances "Homeland," "Question," "Chador," "Seyran," and others gained great popularity among the people. A. Zeynally composed music for the plays "Sevil" and "The Return" by Jabbar Jabbarli, "Fire" by Haji Nazarli and Suleyman Rustam, "Daughter of India" by Abdulkhan Hamid, and "City of Winds" by Vladimir Kirshon, staged at the Turkic Workers' Theater.

The children's suite written by the composer laid the foundation for Azerbaijani children's music.

He is the author of the first romances, piano and violin miniatures, as well as the first symphonic works.

The composer transcribed many well-known folk songs into musical notation.

In 1932, Asaf Zeynally traveled to Karabakh to collect samples of Azerbaijani musical folklore. Returning from the expedition, the composer contracted typhoid fever on the way. Bedridden, he wrote his last symphony on the wall of the hospital ward and asked his brother to copy the work onto paper. Unfortunately, his last wish was not fulfilled.

Asaf Zeynally passed away on October 27, 1932, at the age of 23.

He was buried at the Chambarakend Cemetery, and later his grave was moved to the Qurd qapısı ("Wolf's Gate") cemetery. The fact that his grave is in a neglected state has been repeatedly criticized in Azerbaijani media.

Asaf Zeynally was engaged to pianist Kovkeb Safaraliyeva, who would later become a People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Honored Art Worker, professor at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, and founder of the republic's only secondary specialized music school named after Bülbül affiliated with the conservatory. After his untimely death, Kovkeb khanum never married and throughout her long life never forgot the Zeynally family, remaining its faithful friend until the end of her days.

The Baku Music College and one of the streets in Baku are named after Asaf Zeynally.