Presentation of a book devoted to Gara Garayev was held
Presentation of the book “Gara Garayev. Life and Creative Activity in Materials of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Music Culture” was held at the Azerbaijan National Library named after M.F.Akhundov, February 4.
Minster of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Union of Writers, People’s Writer Anar, Director of the National Museum of Azerbaijani Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi, member of the Milli Majlis Rafael Huseynov, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov, well-known persons of culture and art and musicians attended the presentation.
Addressing the presentation ceremony devoted to the work, which was another publication of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Music Culture with joint support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Director of the National Library Kerim Tahirov talked of the great composer’s creativity.
Addressing the ceremony, deputy minister of culture and tourism Sevda Mammadaliyeva said each year, on February 5th, a series of events are held to mark the birthday of eminent composer, People’s Artist of USSR, laureate of the State Prize, academician Gara Garayev, whose name has been written with golden letters in the history of the Azerbaijani culture, and his immortal music sounded. Gara Garayev has made great contribution to the world’s treasure of culture by his works created in opera, ballet, symphony, symphonic poem, instrumental concert, chamber-instrumental and vocal genres, music written for theatre and movies. His “Seven Beauties” and “On Thunderous Paths” ballets and symphonies, “Don Quixote” symphonic works, “Leyli and Majnun” symphonic poems and a number of other works won world fame to the author.
S. Mammadova noted that in 2008, by a relevant Resolution of President Ilham Aliyev, the 90th anniversary of the composer was widely marked not only in our country, but also in a number of famous art centres of the world.
In a foreword written by President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, member of the Milli Majlis Mehriban Aliyeva to the book “Gara Garayev. Life and Creative Activity in Materials of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Music Culture” talked of the creative activity of Gara Garayev, one of the rare persons endowed by Azerbaijan to the world history, and noted that the publication was a valuable present for music-lovers and emphasized the significance of studying, promotion of the composer’s art, rich heritage and personality and delivery to future generations.
S. Mammadaliyeva thanked, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mehriban Aliyeva for the support provided to preparation of this monumental publication.
Some 700 documents were presented in a chronological order, and a number of these documents were published for the first time.
The deputy minister finished her speech with words of national leader Heydar Aliyev: ” Gara Garayev has left us a fascinating heritage for his artistic value. Gara Garayev’s name has been written in the history of the Azerbaijani science as thoughtful scholar and eminent publicist. Being a composer, pedagogue, scholar, leader and public figure, Gara Garayev has always and in every business been a flaming musician-tribune. Gara Garayev’s name and music is immortal. Years, tens of years will pass and new generations like ourselves will sense beauty through Gara Garayev’s works.”
Director of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Music Culture Alla Bayramova, corresponding member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science, professor Zemfira Safarova, student of the eminent musician, People’s Artist Musa Musayev and others made speeches at the event and highly assessed the publication.
Disks called “Works by Gara Garayev” and “Gara Garayev. Electronic database” prepared by employees of the National Library were also presented at the event.
Pieces from Gara Garayev’s works were sounded by the Azerbaijan State String Quartet at the ceremony, and the participants familiarized themselves with an exhibition devoted to the musician’s life and creative activity.
