CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF MUSIC

Khadija Zeynalova is a graduate of the Sumgayit Music College (music theory), the Uzeyir Hajibeyov Baku Music Academy, Hochschule für Musik Detmold and Paderborn University in Germany, where she defended her doctoral dissertation (Azerbaijani music culture in the 20th century and trends in Western music) with honours. She has been a member of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union since 1999. She lives in Germany, where she founded her band the Bridge of Sound after moving to Germany.

Zeynalova is the first woman composer from Azerbaijan to become a member of GEMA (German Authors' Association) in 2007. She is a recipient of the prestigious Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung doctoral scholarship, DAAD and the German Ministry of Culture scholarship as a composer. She teaches as an Associate Professor at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold.

Her works have been performed at festivals and concerts of contemporary music in Azerbaijan, Germany, the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy and so on.

In 2021, Zeynalova founded the international music festival Harmony of Sound, which took place over three days in three different German cities and was dedicated to Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Garabagh War.

"Music has accompanied human civilisation for thousands of years. Musicians and composers have communicated with the general public through music. What is the mission of music today? Have musicians changed their roles as our guides in the world of music?"

"The long history of music in human civilisation demonstrates that it knows no boundaries and has a unified capacity to bring its different members together. Music has no linguistic attachment, and as such is able to conduct a dialogue regardless of any communication barriers. At every historical stage, in every era, composers and musicians have been the international interpreters in the world of the harmony of sounds and phrases put together as notes. Among them, along with simple interpreters, were born geniuses, without whom it would be impossible to imagine the vast universe of music. Yet it is necessary to make a small excursion into our recent past.

“A couple of centuries ago, and even at the beginning of the last century, almost any musician capable of composing something melodic would be called a composer. Often they were commissioned to compose music by a symphony orchestra for a musicals, operas and so on. It was much later that the art of composing music became a separate professional activity. I think this determined that the mission and role of music in the life of both an individual and society in general is undeniably important. This is how we can express our love, pain, support and many other inner feelings that require emotional expression a little more widely. Certainly, with the development of society and technologies, the role of communicator has undergone changes, as has the role of the composer himself. At the same time, his professional mission to create quality music, to have a vivid individuality, something of his own, has become undeniable. And one of the most important things is to find your own way in the chosen field."

"In general, music firmly sits on the seven notes, five lines of stanza and the alteration marks. In other words, it seems it obeys to the same rules. Can we therefore say that every culture, era and author has its own rules of music-making?”

"Composers, musicians, conductors, audiences are all different, but united by the immense power of music. And, of course, each era has its own rules for music-making. If we analyse different musical cultures and the compositions made in different epochs, we can see a huge difference between them. Each historical segment of the musical evolution has its own trends and directions. After all, every composer and musician seeks his own individuality of expression. One thing that unites everyone and everything is the devotion to music and building bridges between people and cultures through music. I can show you many examples from my own experience. In my orchestra in Germany there are musicians from different countries. Words cannot express how I feel when they, being foreigners, perform the Azerbaijani music, how they feel and present it at concerts and festivals! I can proudly say that I have been able to bring together such professional and talented young musicians from different parts of the world. There is nothing more important to a person of art, including music, than individuality, creativity, hard work and constant creative search..."

"The modern educational system is defined by common idioms and dogmas. How can you develop a strong identity, a unique and recognisable signature within this framework as a performer and composer?"

"Undoubtedly, everyone is gifted by the Almighty, who gives people the opportunity to achieve much according to their abilities and talents. There are many musicians and composers in Azerbaijan, who successfully represent our country at prestigious world competitions and concert halls. That’s why the citizens of Azerbaijan have every right to be proud of their fellow countrymen, who continue the traditions established by their great predecessors, who created and developed a unique layer of music as a contribution to the world treasury of culture. But copying someone is a dead-end to success and recognition. Seeking your own style is the mission of anyone who consciously chooses music as a professional path. Only personal experience can help nurture your own individuality. Copying without hard working will be effective only for a brief moment, but then... Personal style and language will develop over time only if you put your soul in each of your compositions, which you have say digested and reinvented yourself."

"Your works are known as contemporary music. Does it make sense? After all, real music, which has a profound content, is undoubtedly timeless..."

"I enjoy composing contemporary classical music. At the same time I experiment a lot, trying out different techniques and the possibilities of musical instruments. The genius of Bach and Beethoven is undeniable, their works are still relevant today. And they were no strangers to the search for new musical techniques and the expansion of the potential of musical instruments, their sound and their combinations. The recipe is very simple: you have to love what you do! Each new composition is like a birth of a child. Composers of the past, like my contemporaries, did not just compose a piece of music. The gifted have to nurture the talent that has been bestowed upon them, i.e. to write high quality music, filling it with love so that it can then be presented to audiences and enrich their inner world. This is a great responsibility."

"Your works are made for different instrumental ensembles. Which instrument do you like the most?"

"I like instruments with low timbres, like the sound of the cello, bass clarinet, viola, accordion, block flute, tenor saxophone, piano, organ... I could go on and on. Although I compose music for all the instruments, as a musician I only have two of them—the piano and the organ."

"What is important to you about music and what are you looking for in it at the moment?"

"What matters to me is love and professionalism. Individuality and my own style have become a priority for me as soon as I decided to be a composer professionally. My music should ignite the souls, touch the hearts of listeners. And to achieve that I need to keep in shape, to improve myself constantly. That's why I'm looking for new horizons and opportunities to develop as a composer."

"Music can hardly prove practically useful in any concrete situation compared to, say, bridges, roads, houses, plants, etc. that are vital for an average layman. What is the purpose of music for you?"

"Music helps to distract people from their worries and burdens in life. Listening to music promotes relaxation. It has been proven over and over again that music can have a powerful effect on the mental state and body of a person. Music is an effective tool for immersing yourself in a certain state, a source of emotion, that is. Surprisingly, it is difficult to imagine human life without music. Soon or later each person finds his own piece of music regardless of its duration and so on. Your musical preferences can tell a lot about your character, or about what is bothering your at a particular moment. We turn to music both in the moments of joy and sadness. It takes us to the magical world of harmony that pleases us, makes us happy, which is essential in our lives."

"What is the closest you can compare the work of a musician to?"

"Musician is like a jeweller! Making a diamond may take long hours and even weeks until the hands of a master make it astonishingly beautiful. Musicians and composers can articulate with seven notes only. But thanks to painstaking work, beat by beat, they line them up into a piece of music. Even a small piece adjusted to perfection, reflecting the author's own message and accepted by the audience can be recognised as a masterpiece."

"What is the role of performer's personality, his cultural identity in terms of immersing in the material using national, Azerbaijani nuances?"

"Finding a performer with individual style is a stroke of luck for any composer. Each musician has an individual approach to interpreting the composer's work. He conveys the composer's ideas and imagination, and gets a feel for the character of the work. But this isn't easy. That is why choosing someone to ‘entrust your child’ to is a serious factor. From my own experience, I can say that there is still a difference in cultural identity. Musicians from Azerbaijan feel the music I have written differently than, for example, German or from other countries. But fortunately, many foreign performers share the same tunes with me (pun intended). I am lucky to have the pleasure of working with the most talented and professional performers from different countries in my orchestra."

"What are festivals for a musician?"

"Our present is an amazing period for us as musicians and composers. Never before in the history of the music industry have authors and performers had such almost limitless opportunities to spread their works around the world. Festivals are about development, new opportunities, new contacts, new ideas and impressions, which then become part of new works."

"To what extent does the promotion of Azerbaijani culture through music, especially about Garabagh, make it understandable to European audiences?"

"It is impossible to be an Azerbaijani composer without addressing the subject of Garabagh, the cradle of our musical culture. It lives in our souls and hearts—this is an immutable truth. Garabagh is the sound of the smallest nuances of nature, it is a march of freedom and will, a gentle melody of love and devotion, a hymn of honour and dignity. My reflections on Garabagh and my desire to sing about this wonderful land turn to notes spontaneously. I have repeatedly referred to the theme of Garabagh in my compositions for different orchestra ensembles. This was an opportunity to tell through the music about the magic this blessed land can mesmerise anyone with. One such piece was the Garabagh Suite written in 2016. It has already been successfully performed at international events winning the sympathy of audiences."

"Your works often performed alongside the works by great composers of the past. How do you feel at such moments? Do you compare them, maybe unwittingly?"

"It is a great honour for me. After all, concert programmes are put together very carefully so that the works are not just performed, but complement each other to create a coherent musical image. It is not about comparison. Yet being close to the acclaimed composers of the past makes me aware of the continuity of existence, when we can ask the eternal questions about our destiny in life. And if my music continues to search for answers together with the greats, I will feel proud..."

"It so happens that your works demonstrate a harmonious alliance between the European and Azerbaijani musical traditions, which proves that the commonality of world cultures is indisputable."

“I try to build a bridge between people, countries, cultures and musical worlds with my works. To create a point where East meets West, and the different melodies and instruments involved in the compositions become like bridges. This is what prompted me to establish in 2016 the Bridge of Sound Ensemble, a musical bridge between parts of the world. We have many projects in which I demonstrate the harmonious alliance of European and Azerbaijani musical traditions. This year, with financial support from the Azerbaijan Diaspora Foundation, we released our second CD album, Henry and Leyla, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of German-Azerbaijani relations. As the title suggests, it is a love story between a young German man and an Azerbaijani girl. The events take place during the Second World War in Shamkir, known in the past with its evangelical name Annenfeld founded by German immigrants in Azerbaijan back in 1818. I would also like to mention our debut CD album Vom Land des Feuers - Wege zwischen Aserbaidschan und Deutschland (From the Land of Fire: Bridges between Azerbaijan and Germany) dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan. And these are just a couple of examples out of a dozen of my works...”

"Not only do you present music to wider audiences, but you have also been a member of the jury of the International Competition of Composers and joined the 5th World Congress of Azerbaijanis. In which of these conventions you felt more responsible?"

"Responsibility is not graded. It is the same everywhere and always. To be on the jury of the International Competition of Composers in Germany and to be invited to the 5th World Congress of Azerbaijanis was a great honour; to be in Shusha, which hosted 400 Azerbaijanis from 65 countries! These impressions will stay with me forever... May the souls of our martyrs rest in peace! And may our veterans, who made it possible for us to return to the holy land of Garabagh, be healthy. President of Azerbaijan awarded me with the Medal for Contributions to Diaspora Activities, which is a great honour for me. I would like to thank our president, the Diaspora committee and my parents."

"What is the most important thing about music for you? How do you see the future of music?"

"The main thing in music for me is a true devotion. Over the years, with experience, I understand music and art more deeply. The formulas of life gradually expose themselves to me through music, and this helps me to navigate in this world. My inspiration is always the creative process, which fills me with energy. As my performances for various audiences. Everyone creates his own culture, so I am trying to do my best too..."