ETERNAL MUSIC OF THE SILK WAY

The First Silk Way International Music Festival, the, was held in the wonderful town of Saki in late June. The opening of the festival was held at one of Azerbaijan's most outstanding and valued monuments - the Palace of the Saki Khans. The event was organized by the Azerbaijan Republic's Union of Composers, jointly with the Saki executive authorities. 

The choice of Saki as the venue for the Silk Way Festival was not accidental. This town has always been noted for its talented residents. It was the native town of many outstanding artists and writers, including the founder of Azerbaijani dramaturgy, Mirza Fatali Axundov,  people's poet Baxtiyar Vahabzada, film director Rasim Ocaqov, People's Artist Lutfali Abdullayev, the first woman composer in the East, Safiqa Abdullayeva, etc. It is no wonder that Saki was named the "capital of Azerbaijani arts" this year. One of Azerbaijan's inimitable corners, Saki has a long history. For centuries, it has seen the development of architecture, applied arts, wood and bone carving, pottery and blacksmithing, music etc. Saki's musical culture has always been noted for the special traditions of its performance. The town is also famous for its mugham assemblies. The names of Alasgar Abdullayev and Aliovsat Sadiqov are engraved in gold in the history of mugham. 

Great support for the preservation of our culture is provided by the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who promotes Azerbaijan's classical and folk music energetically within UNESCO. For several days, the Palace of the Saki Khans was the stage for an outdoor concert upon which musicians from many countries performed. During the six-day music festival, residents and visitors to Saki heard concert versions of two of the most famous mugham operas - Leyli and Majnun by Uzeir Hacibayov and Shah Ismayil by Muslim Maqomayev. A concert by the Qara Qarayev orchestra was also held at the Palace as part of the festival. The orchestra was established in 1964 on the initiative of Azerbaijan's prominent composers Qara Qarayev and Fikrat Amirov. The first conductor and art director of the orchestra was People's Artist of Azerbaijan and winner of the State Award, Nazim Rzayev. In the 40 years that the orchestra has existed, it has performed in many prestigious concert halls and participated in a number of reputable international music festivals. Its repertoire includes works by Azerbaijani, Russia and West European composers. Since 1998, the orchestra has been managed by People's Artist Teymur Goycayev. 

The festival concert, conducted by T. Goycayev, opened with the symphonic mugham Arazbari, by the great Uzeir Hacibayov. Also played were works by Mozart, Qara Qarayev, Tchaikovsky, Fikrat Amirov, Aqsin Alizada, Zakir Bagirov, Suleyman Alasgarov etc. After the concert, the first deputy head of the Saki executive authority, Hasan Hasanov, thanked all participants on behalf of the town's residents and presented an award to the orchestra. 

The second day of the festival started at the foot of an ancient Albanian temple in the village of Kis, with a concert by the Azerbaijan Union of Composers' Oasis string quartet. The quartet played the Oasis by F. Alizada, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, the Quartet by Qarayev, the Humoresque by Shostakovich etc. The festival was joined not only by nationally-known music ensembles but also by local musicians and bands, a choir and orchestra of folk instruments from a music college and the chamber orchestra of school No 4. 

Musicians from South Korea, Norway, Canada and Finland also gladly accepted the invitation of the Union of Composers to take part in the Silk Way Festival. The concert by the Korean folk group Samulnori, one of the best known groups in Korea, will certainly be remembered. The group derives its name from four folk instruments. Its musicians play the small and large tam-tams, a percussion instrument resembling a sand-glass, and an ordinary percussion instrument. Each of these instruments produces the sound of a different kind of weather: wind, rain and lightning. The group's repertoire also contains the best musical and dancing elements of drum music from different provinces and regions of Korea. The Korean group's performance aroused considerable interest. Master-classes by famous musicians were also organized within the framework of the festival. For example, one such master-class was held by Professor of the Helsinki Music Academy, pianist Nikita Yuzhanin, with students of Saki music schools and a music college. He was born and grew up in Baku and graduated from the Azerbaijan music academy.  

According to the chairperson of the Azerbaijan Union of Composers, People's Artist and art director of the Silk Way Festival, Firangiz Alizada, the decision has already been made to conduct the festival annually. The composer hopes that it will be joined by an increasing number of countries.