GREAT MAN

His songs knew no bounds or limits. The creations of legendary composer Tofiq Quliyev are able to enter the soul and wake the best feelings. There is not a single grand ceremony where his songs are not sounded, not a single singer who does not sing any of them. The composer continues to live on in his works that became immortal while their author still lived.

Three birthdays 

He was born in November 1917 in Baku. His daughter Lala Quliyeva recalls that her father celebrated the birthday for three days. "The passport showed 7 November as the birthday. But grandma said that he is my child and I gave him life on 5 November. Those who knew about the passport date visited to congratulate on 7 November, while relatives gathered on 5 November. And those who could not make it on 5 November came on 6 November. My mother joked that it was unheard of one person having three birthdays… The two phones we had at home never went silent on these days. The giant vase that covered half of the table and was brought from Japan was filled to the brim with congratulatory letters".

He was the first child of his parents who immediately upon his birth were faced with a difficult choice - the elder brother of his father had for many years longed for a child. Therefore, Alakbar and Yaxsi xanim decided to give him their son and the would-be composer spent his childhood in the house of his uncle.

Calling - music

Years went by. By the time he was 13-14 Tofiq already had three brothers and two sisters who were brought up in the big family. Tofiq Quliyev himself grew as the only child in the family. His uncle and aunt complied with his every wish. But once his father took him home after he found out that as his son grows up in an overprotective environment he showed little interest in studies. Although his parents were not musicians they loved music passionately. His family was also very interested in books. Parents paid special attention to the musical education of their children. And when 12 Tofiq already studied in the school under the Azerbaijani state conservatory. It was then that his natural talent showed and distinguished him among his classmates. He charmed everyone with fine performances on the piano, improvisation and musical composition. In the first years of his education famous composer Asaf Zeynalli had a major influence on him. Zeynalli urged Tofiq, when he was 12 years old, to write the Maktabli (Schoolboy) song with the lyrics of poet Mirza Alakbar Sabir. 

In 1934, he entered the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, where he simultaneously studied piano classes with Aysberg and conductor classes with Strasser. In the class of genius composer Uzeyir Hacibayli he learned the secrets of mugam. He graduated from the conservatory in 1936.

The great Uzeyir Hacibayli played a major role in his life as he sent him together with Qara Qarayev and Covdat Haciyev to the Chaykovskiy Moscow State Conservatory to study the cultural legacy of the classics of the world music and to learn the secrets of musical education. The atmosphere of Moscow, participation in the vibrant concert and theatrical life of the capital, performing with jazz concerts for a living, working as a pianist in the All-Union jazz orchestra of the famous pianist Tsfasman helped to improve the musical education of the young musician. Performances with the jazz orchestra of Tsfasman incited Quliyev's wish to create his own band. In 1939 Quliyev returned to Baku and began working with Niyazi. With the help of writer and playwright Mirza Ibrahimov he created an orchestra. He gathered musicians, ordered the instruments in Leningrad and in earnest began working on the repertoire.

First of all he needed to find a talented singer with a good voice. Tofiq Quliyev and Niyazi decided that such a singer in the conservatory can only be found in the class of great Bulbul. The only problem was that Bulbul was a classical singer and would never agree that his students took part in a jazz band. Then Tofiq Quliyev and Niyazi decided to use a trick and enlisted in Bulbul's class as listeners to observe his students. This is when they met Dilara Bagirbayova, who was the best student of Bulbul. She became the first soloist in the jazz band Tofiq Quliyev created. This was kept in secret from Bulbul for a long time. He was enraged when he heard this.

The acquaintance that began as a working relationship soon grew into love. Meanwhile, the father of Dilara xanim became the victim of the Soviet repression machine. These were difficult years when many avoided the families of the "enemies of the people". But Tofiq married the "enemy" daughter, became the support and buttress for this family. In these years the band led by Tofiq Quliyev began its life on the front as part of the Red Army's Division No 402. His spouse went to the front with him. For his merits in the battles to defend the Caucasus Tofiq Quliyev was awarded with several medals.

The richest period of his work began in the subsequent years. He worked with a great desire and dedication, enriching the Azerbaijani music with beautiful songs and incomparable music. In the 1930s Quliyev's work was associated with such talented composers as Qara Qarayev, Sayid Rustamov, Niyazi, Zakir Bagirov, Covdat Haciyev. He had many friends. The closest ones were composers Qara Qarayev, Covdat Haciyev and film director Hasan Sayidbayli. They were called "inseparable friends".

There are no bad people

Lala Quliyev says that her father was very sociable. "He found a common language with everybody - both with children and adults. His general belief was that there are no bad people. When he heard about ungracious acts of somebody he used to say that this person understands the folly of his ways and only committed it because he was compelled. I am still amazed how my father could live with this philosophy. They say the truth that the big people have big hearts. He never accused or reproached anybody. Trusted everyone. Even when faced with irrefutable facts he just shrugged and said: "At the end of the day he is just a man and can make mistakes. Also he already knows that this is wrong and will no longer do so".

The more Lala Quliyeva talks of her father - composer, pianist, conductor, major figure in music and, first of all, a great man - the more recollections she makes: "In that year my father was the chairman of the Azerbaijani Union of Composers. He also worked after he returned home. I always said that our flat was the first room of the Union of Composers. Everybody visited us with their problems and requests. My father patiently listened to everybody and rendered whatever help he could. He even tackled issues that were outside of his remit, helped with advice and pointed out solutions. Many were surprised at this: "Really, this is a way out. How come we could not come up with this?"

His close friend Qara Qarayev wrote about Tofiq Quliyev's good deeds: "It was never so clear to me as it is now how much good you have done for the people. How necessary is your music for them! It turned out once again that you constantly and with daily labour dedicated all your life to music. I am grateful to you for the invaluable contribution made to the spiritual treasury of the Azerbaijani people!" 

Lala Quliyeva continues: "I can say without exaggeration: his works do not reflect even one-third of Tofiq Quliyev's talent. He simply did not have time for songwriting. Sessions, gatherings… He often received requests and he enjoyed helping people. He was often invited to TV. Never complained that he was overburdened. He loved such an active life. In the mornings he exercised and then always read newspapers. He liked reading very much." Tofiq Quliyev was well-versed not only in music, but also in world history and culture, in politics and other fields of art. He had a rich library. 

Father's jokes

During the conversation Lala Quliyeva often smiled as she recalled the jokes of her father. But many could not even imagine the hardships this man faced as he was always affable, smiling and good-natured. Lala said that from his first marriage Tofiq Quliyev had a son. Now Eldar Quliyev is one of prominent Azerbaijani film directors, known for his own style. His elder daughter from the second marriage, Adila, is a journalist, while the younger one, Lala, received musical education. Adila died still young. "The age difference between me and my sister was 18 years, Lala says, Adila passed away at 36, when her only daughter Camila was only 8 years old. She grew up in our house. My father, I and Camila were often seen together and therefore people called us the "big trio". Camila starred in two films where the soundtracks were composed by my father. He dedicated to her music collection "Camila's Album" for piano."

Many years later Tofiq Quliyev experienced another loss, when his wife Dilara xanim died. He lived a little longer than 10 years after this. Many of his colleagues had already passed away. Tofiq Quliyev was bored as he was left alone. But I never heard a single complaint from him.

This is how Lala Quliyev recalls the last years of her father: "He was already 83. He had health issues. But it seemed to me that he would live for many more years. He never complained about diseases and old age. In addition his father's brothers and his grandfather lived long lives. One uncle lived 99 years, while the other lived 101 years. It seemed to me that my father too will live as many years. Therefore his death was unexpected for me…"

Tofiq Quliyev passed away on 4 October 2004. His songs that bring people happiness and love remain. For more than half a century his songs can be heard in concert halls, in TV and radio programmes and in grand ceremonies. Years pass by, new composers write new songs. But Tofiq Quliyev's songs are different from all others with their charm, beauty and long lives.