A Collection of Manuscripts about Mugham


A Collection of Manuscripts about Mugham was published within the scope of a joint project by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Heydar Aliyev Center in 2013. The Collection contains manuscripts devoted to music that are preserved at the Mohammad Fuzuli Manuscripts Institute under the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.


Comprised of 3 books, the collection includes 7 works. The 1st book is called “Behjatur-ruh”. Valuable information is contained in the book, which the author wrote in Farsi and presented as risalas about the art of music. Distinguished copies of the work preserved in Azerbaijan, Iran, England, Russia and other countries’ treasure-houses of manuscripts have long been a source of valuable information for experts and mugham lovers.


The 2nd book is called “Risalas about Music”. This book includes 5 risalas. It’s assumed that the first risala belonging to famous Azerbaijani scholar Mir Mohsun Navvab was written at the end of the 19th century. The text of the risala is accompanied by explanation based on schedules. Other risalas written by Emir Khan Kovkabi Gurchi and other unknown authors contain interesting information about the history of mugham, music theory and the art of performance. In risalas talking about the basis of the music art is given information about the mugham acts and sections in relation to constellations, planets and four seasons of a year, and chapters are allocated to learn rhythms and music instruments.