Music of Azerbaijan

Template:Caucasianmusic Azerbaijan is part of the Caucasian music region, but also shares musical similarities with Central Asian Turkic nations and Persian music. [1].

Mugam

Main article: Mugam

The classical music of Azerbaijan is called mugam (more accurately spelled muğam), and is usually a suite with poetry and instrumental interludes. The sung poetry sometimes includes tahrir segments, which use a form of throat singing similar to yodelling. The poetry is typically about divine love and is most often linked to Sufi Islam.

In contrast to the mugam traditions of other Central Asian countries, Azeri mugam is more free-form and less rigid; it is often compared to the improvised field of jazz. [2]

UNESCO proclaimed the Azerbaijani mugam tradition a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2003.

Musical instruments

The stringed instrument tar and the balaban, a variation of the duduk, are the most distinctive and common of Azeri musical instruments; other instruments include the frame drum ghaval, the kamancha and the cylindrical drum naghara . Other instruments include the zurna, Garmon , Tutek and dhol.

Ashiqs

Main article: Ashiq

Ashiqs are travelling bards who sing and play the saz, a form of lute. Their songs are semi-improvised around a common base.

Azeri musicians

The most famous contemporary Azeri musicians are perhaps jazz singer Aziza Mustafa Zadeh and her father, Vagif Mustafa Zadeh, who are quite popular internationally in jazz circles.

List of mugam singers:

List of composers:

Other musicians

Habil Aliev: kamanche player

References

Broughton, Simon and Sultanova, Razia. "Bards of the Golden Road". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 24-31. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
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