LONG LIFE AMONG CHILDREN

Ogtay Zulfugarov, a truly brilliant composer, passed away on 31 August. He was known as a friend of children. It is not surprising since he was one of the pioneering composers, who began composing music for children in Azerbaijan. He was able to feel the subtle psyche of children through music, to understand their mood. In other words, he knew how to talk to them in the same language, the language of children.

Zulfugarov was one of the brightest representatives of Azerbaijani school of composers. In 1945, he began learning playing cello at Music School №1 and finished the 7-year education term just in two years. He then continued his studies at the Asaf Zeynalli Music School. Since he did not have a piano at home, Ogtay was staying in the classroom at nights. He has later received numerous awards of singing contests held in the republic for his unprecedented creativity. He had studied at the State Conservatory’s cello class for some time, and then was admitted to composer Gara Garayev’s class without exams. The first success of the young composer was at the Congress of Azerbaijani composers in 1957, when, as a third-year student, he performed Trio for Piano. In 1958, after successfully graduating Gara Garayev’s class, Ogtay Zulfugarov began working on a series of children's songs, as advised by his teacher. Then he wrote the opera Qız-ulduz (The Starlet), Pişik və sərçə (The Cat and the Sparrow) and Meşə nağılı (Forest Tale). In 1962, the author of the overture for symphonic orchestra Şənlən mənim xalqım (Rejoice, My People), a musical comedy, concerts for flute and cello, symphonic poems, cantatas, instrumental pieces was awarded the title of laureate in Moscow.

In 2010-2012, Zulfugarov wrote the ballet in two parts for children named Sehirli alma (The Magic Apple), as well as textbooks on music for the pupils of II and V grades in collaboration with the art-director of children's musical theater Tumurcuq (currently Aysel) Tamilla Babayeva and Vidadi Khalilov.

For years, Tumurcuq has been developing programs for the State Television of Azerbaijan under the leadership of Ogtay Zulfugarov. He was also a poet, whose poems were published in a separate collection entitled Oxuyur Aysel (Aysel is singing). In 1972, Ogtay Zulfugarov was awarded the title of Honored Art Worker of Azerbaijan, and in 2000 - People's Artist of Azerbaijan and the Order of Glory. He has served as the art-director of the State Children's Philharmonic Society for about 20 years.

Today, his friends and colleagues, those who knew him very well and played his extraordinary music, share bright memories of the maestro with R+.

Zemfira Gafarova, musicologist, Honoured Art Worker, Professor of the Conservatory:

- Perhaps there is no composer, who would ever compose music for children, but Ogtay-muallim had worked with great dedication and had clearly proved himself in this field of music. Therefore, despite his significant contributions such as symphonic, chamber and instrumental compositions, the Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, quartets, trios for piano, he can rightly be called the children's composer. He knew the child psychology, how to get along with them, loved them, and they responded to him in return. I had given this talented person an idea to create children's theater at the House of Culture Workers, which was managed by my husband Amir Gafarov. The theater was named Tumurcuq (Button), later renamed to Aysel. It has been so popular that performed not only in Baku, but has given concerts in the regions of Azerbaijan and has often appeared on TV shows. Ogtay-muallim was a sociable man, who loved people. Not only had he written children's songs and operettas, but he could also paint and sculpt. For example, he has made everything in his country house on his own. As a long time artistic director of the Children's Philharmonic, he had not only composed music for children, but also staged performances as director and conductor.

Ogtay Rajabov, composer, honored teacher, member of the Academy of Pedagogical and Social Sciences of Russia:

- Ogtay Zulfugarov was a great musician, a composer, who devoted himself to children's music. After all, today's children are engineers, doctors, teachers, and military officers of the future. It is the music, which must inspire them to love their parents and the Motherland since childhood. As known, the economic development of any society depends on aesthetic education. Zulfugarov had worked with children from 2 to 6 years, while I teach music to pupils of secondary schools up to the 9th grade. He had lived a happy and long life full of dignity among the children. Once I asked him, “Do not you get tired of the kids?” He replied, “They energize me, which helps to prolong my life”. I wish young composers to compose music for as many children as possible. In addition to songs such as Telefon, Qatar, Ovçu and others, which are performed and still loved by many generations, he wrote children's opera Meşə nağılı, Pişik və sərçə, Qız-ulduz, opera-ballet for children, and many more. Popular music for children greatly improves the cultural level of the whole country. Although he was far from educational activities, he nevertheless had revealed the secrets of musical art to children. So many people in our country can be called Zulfugarov’s disciples. Among them are well-known composers, musicians, and singers.

Arif Mirzayev, composer, organist, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan:

- Ogtay-muallim was a kind, open person and a workaholic. He had always rendered his help to anybody, for example, to the chairman of the Union of Composers, secretaries of the Union, and he did it all for free. His magnificent work, the overture Şənlən, mənim xalqım! had soon become a hit played by the All-Union Radio. It was as popular as the child's song Cücələrim (My Chickens). His music is unusual and distinctive.

Eldar Mansurov, composer, People's Artist of Azerbaijan:

- Ogtay-muallim has a large and bright personality. He is one of the brightest composers of our time, he could work in many genres of music, but he has devoted his life to children. He is the founder of the children's musical theater. He had used to try new songs on his own children first, and only then they would got popular all over the country. This happened with his famous Kim sevirsə idmanı. Aside from his operetta Şəngülüm, Şüngülüm, Məngülüm, he is also famous for compositions such as Abşeron bağları, Vətən hissi, and Dostluq. He has also composed many pop songs, as well as popular soundtracks for theater performances and cinema.

Jahangir Zulfugarov, son of Ogtay Zulfugarov, Honored Artist, composer, teacher of the Azerbaijan State Children Philharmonic Society:

- Ogtay Zulfugarov is often called the grandfather of Azerbaijani children. Children from different parts of the country would have come to father, and he had always said that all of them were talented. He believed that they should learn music from an early age. Those who were taught by father would have brought their children to the theater, and even their grandchildren. Dad wanted me to fully devote myself to studies with children, but I had not have so much patience. It is very difficult to work with the children. I remember when a four-year girl, who sang at the rehearsal quite professionally. But then during the studio recording she had suddenly stopped singing. Noone could persuade her to start singing. All were keeping silence, my dad too, but he could easily find a common language with all the children. Suddenly my father said loudly: “Shame on you, look at how you are behaving!”. Then the girl began to sing. Everyone was surprised, including the poor girl’s father, who had never ever talked to her this way.

My father always remembered his only meeting with Uzeyir-bey at the corridor of the Conservatory, who had asked him what instrument he was playing. It was his lifetime memory, as well as the lessons of his teacher Gara Garayev. Of course, Uzeyir-bey was the driving force behind everything in the Azerbaijani professional music.

Ogtay Zulfugarov was not only my father, but he was also a great friend, whom had counseled me. I always used to show him my works. He could immediately see my mistakes that I was able to discover only after some time. In contrast to father's songs for children, my songs are performed by adult singers. I have been working at the puppet theater since 1986. My daughter plays the flute in the symphonic orchestra. Dad even wrote Concerto for Flute and Orchestra for her. Our whole family enjoys music. We all took part in Tumurcuq, the musical theater and on television helping dad. Every one of us had a role to play. For example, I used to be a camera operator, one of my sisters - a director, the other one - an actress. My mother has taught vocal singing for 40 years. And we all used to watch how dad had been working with forty children. In Poland, where he had to read a report, he was told nowhere in the world was such a musical theater with children from 2 to 6 years.

Dad had never been idle. If he was silent it would mean he was writing a poem, which then would be part of his song. For example, three collections of Oxu, Aysel! He was a great patriot, who had loved his people and the country was proud of its achievements. He had always been living in the world of arts: sculpting, painting, etc. Some of his works are exhibited in museums, but generally they are collected at home. His vase decorated with a portrait of Uzeyir-bey is still in the house-museum of the great composer. The father remained in my memory as a kind, bright, well-educated person with a great sense of humor, which worked until the end of his days. 

May he rest in peace!