This book traces the development of Azerbaijani art music from its origins in the Eastern, modal, improvisational tradition known as mugham through its fusion with Western classical, jazz, and world art music. Aida Huseynova places the fascinating and little-known history of music in Azerbaijan against the vivid backdrop of cultural life under Soviet influence, which paradoxically both encouraged and repressed the evolution of national musics and post-Soviet independence. Inspired by their neighbors to the East and West, Azerbaijani musicians enjoyed a period of remarkable creativity, composing and performing the first opera and the first ballet in the Muslim East, establishing the region's first Opera and Ballet Theater and Conservatory of Music, and discovering ways to merge the modal lyricism of mugham with the rhythmic dynamics of jazz. Drawing on previously unstudied archives, letters, and documents as well as her experience as an Azerbaijani musician and educator, Huseynova shows how Azerbaijani musical development was not a product of Soviet cultural policies but rather grew from and reflected deep and complex cultural processes.

"Song from the Land of Fire" explores Azerbaijanian musical culture, a subject previously unexamined by American and European scholars. This book contains notations of "mugham" performance-a fusion of traditional poetry and musical improvisation-and analysis of hybrid genres, such as "mugham"-operas and symphonic "mugham" by native composers. Intimately connected to the awakening of Azerbaijanian national consciousness while ruled by the Russian Empire and the USSR, "mugham" is inseparable from the contexts in which it is produced and heard. Inna Naroditskaya provides the historical and political contexts for "mugham" and profiles the musicians, musical genealogies, and musical institutions of Azerbaijan. INCLUDES AUDIO CD.

Azerbaijan is a country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the east. Azerbaijan has a rich history and has been inhabited by various peoples and empires throughout its history. The country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since undergone significant political and economic reforms. Azerbaijan is known for its oil and natural gas reserves, which have helped fuel its economic growth. The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku, a city famous for its oil industry and the iconic Flame Towers. Other major cities include Ganja, Sumgait, and Mingachevir. The official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani, although Russian and English are also widely spoken. The majority of the population is Muslim, but the country is known for its religious tolerance and the coexistence of various religious communities. Azerbaijan is a member of several international organizations, including the UN, the Council of Europe, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Dictionary of places, people and events in Azerbaijan history.