Tofig Guliyev
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Tofig Guliyev was an Azerbaijani composer. He was born in Baku on November 7, 1917. Despite early-appeared music talent, he started to study music relatively late, when he was 12. Being a student of musical college, he wrote his first composition in 1931. It was a song "About Schoolboy" (text of Azerbaijan classic Mirza Alakbar Sabir). He entered Azerbaijan State Conservatoire in 1934, at two faculties at the same time. His conductor's activity started in 1935. He worked in Azerbaijan State Drama Theater. Starting from 1938, Tofig Guliyev was involved in collection of folk music. He recorded folk songs, dances, mugams, and it was very valuable contribution in Azerbaijan study of folklore. Uzeir Hajibeyov initiated to send him to learn in Moscow State Conservatoire. In Moscow, in addition to classis music he was keen of pops music, in particular, of jazz. He created first State Pops Orchestra in 1939, and so became one of the founders of Azerbaijan jazz. He continued to study in Moscow Conservatoire in 1948, because the World War II interrupted his study. That time he entered both: composition and conducting faculties, and then post-graduate studies. The latter was successfully completed in 1954. All these years he performed as conductor, and wrote a number of symphonic and chamber compositions. He creates bright and memorizing music for theater and especially for movies. Song genre is a leading one in his creative life. His songs are very popular not only in Azerbaijan, but also worldwide. His music style is very specific. It composes national folk basis and traditions of European professional school, as well as American jazz. He started his teaching activity in 1954. He led opera and orchestra classes at Azerbaijan State Conservatoire. From 1958 to 1961 he was Director of Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society. In addition to his creative works, he was widely involved in public activity. He participated in arranging relations with foreign countries. According to his great deserts, he was frequently awarded by the highest governmental awards. Tofig Guliyev headed Azerbaijan Composers' Union from 1969 till 1979 as First Secretary. He was elected the Chairman of the board in 1990 and held this occupation till the end of his life - on October 4, 2000.
