Today is the birthday of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev

Today marks 107 years since the birth of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer and teacher Gara Garayev.

BAKU.WS reminds that G.Garayev was born on February 5, 1918 in Baku in the family of the renowned doctor, Professor Abulfaz Garayev and Sona khanum Akhundova-Garayeva. The composer's father was an honored figure of science, a leading pediatrician of Azerbaijan and diagnostician, and his mother Sona khanum graduated from the Baku branch of the Saint Nina School.

In 1926, Gara Garayev was admitted to the music school at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. In 1930, he entered the piano class of the Baku Music Faculty at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. In 1935, he studied at the composition faculty of the state conservatory in the class of Professor Leopold Rudolf.

During his studies, he learned the fundamentals of Azerbaijani folk music from Professor Uzeyir Hajibeyov, who, having first used ashug motifs in a work for viola trio, cello and piano, inspired G.Garayev to create a symphonic transcription of the work "Ashygsayaghy" in 1965.

In 1937, G.Garayev became a member of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan, and in 1938 - a student of the Moscow State Conservatory.

In the same year, he wrote his first major work for choir, symphony orchestra and dance ensemble - the cantata "Song of the Heart" with lyrics by Rasul Rza, and also participated in the Decade of Azerbaijani Art in Moscow.

In 1941, G.Garayev worked as artistic director of the M.Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic. In 1943, he wrote his first symphony. In 1944, he became deputy chairman of the board of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan. In 1946, he graduated from the P.I.Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in the composition class of Dmitry Shostakovich.

In 1946, G.Garayev worked as a teacher in the composition class of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. In the same year, he was elected secretary of the Board of the Union of Composers of the USSR. In 1948, he became associate professor of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory.

From 1950 to 1953, Gara Garayev was rector of the Uzeyir Hajibeyov Azerbaijan State Conservatory. From 1955 to 1976 - deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the IV-IX convocations. From 1956 to 1973 - first secretary of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan.

G.Garayev was not only a brilliant composer, but also a scholar - a thinker with a rich worldview, encyclopedic knowledge, philosophical generalizations, broad erudition and keen mind. Despite the fact that the scholar did not conduct special research in the field of musical science, theory and aesthetics, he nevertheless left a rich scientific and journalistic legacy, numerous articles, reviews, reports and speeches, interviews. His thoughts, ideas, views allowed the composer to occupy an honorable place in Azerbaijani musicology.

Gara Garayev - author of the operas "Motherland", "Tenderness", ballets "Seven Beauties", "Path of Thunder", "Leyli and Majnun", cantatas "Song of the Heart", "Song of Happiness", "Hymn of Friendship" and other works.

He educated a huge number of students. His students are distinguished by high professionalism and individuality, a special, unique style.

The composer's name in 1982 was given to the Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra, and in 1989 - to the eleven-year music school №8. In 1984, the ship "Gara Garayev" was launched.

In 1991, in memory of the great Azerbaijani composer, the metro station "Avrora" was renamed "Gara Garayev". In the same year, one of the streets of Baku was given the composer's name.

In 1998, a postage stamp "Gara Garayev" was issued in Azerbaijan.

In 2007, the Gara Garayev International Festival of Contemporary Music was held.

The International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) declared 2018 the Year of Gara Garayev. On October 1 of the same year, the grand opening of the G.Garayev House-Museum, located on Nizami Street in Baku, took place.

Gara Garayev was married to Tatyana Nechayeva. From this marriage they had two children - son Faraj and daughter Zuleykha.

The composer died on May 13, 1982 in Moscow and was buried at the Alley of Honor in Baku. The author of his tombstone monument is architect Talat Khanlarov.