A student of Uzeyir Hajibeyov, 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 Zeynalli. Today marks the 115th anniversary of the birth of the brilliant composer.

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

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

In 1929-1931, Asaf Zeynalli 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 Zeynalli is the founder of the romance genre in Azerbaijani music.

His romances "Homeland," "Question," "Veil," "Seyran," and others gained great popularity among the people. A. Zeynalli 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 Zeynalli 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 transcribe the work onto paper. Unfortunately, his last wish was not fulfilled.

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

He was buried at the Chambarakend Cemetery, and later his grave was relocated 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 Zeynalli was engaged to pianist Kovkab Safaraliyeva, who later became a People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Honored Art Worker, professor at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, and founder of the only specialized secondary music school in the republic — the Bulbul Music School affiliated with the conservatory. After his untimely death, Kovkab khanum never married and throughout her long life never forgot the Zeynalli 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 Zeynalli.