Franghiz Ali-Zadeh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
|
|
|---|---|
Ali-Zadeh in 2021
|
|
| Chairperson of the Composers Union of Azerbaijan | |
| Assumed office 2007 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Franghiz Ali Aga Kïzï Ali-Zadeh
28 May 1947 Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR |
| Occupation |
|
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh (born May 28, 1947) is a famous composer and pianist from Azerbaijan. She is known for her unique music that mixes modern classical styles with traditional Azerbaijani mugham music. She also leads the Composers Union of Azerbaijan. Some of her well-known pieces include Gabil Sajahy for cello and piano, and the ballet Empty Cradle. She has written music for instruments, voices, and even movies.
Contents
About Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
Her Early Life and Learning
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 28, 1947. At that time, Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union. Even though her family wasn't especially musical, her dad, who was an oil engineer, sometimes played the tar. This is a traditional string instrument from Central Asia.
Franghiz loved music from a young age. When she was five, her family bought her a piano. She started composing music a few years later, learning from a teacher named Adila Huseinzade.
From 1954 to 1965, she went to a special music school at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. Later, she studied composition with Gara Garayev and piano with Ulfan Khalilov at the same conservatory. She finished her piano studies in 1970 and composition in 1972. She even became an assistant to her composition teacher, Gara Garayev, from 1970 to 1976. She later earned a special degree for her research on how Azerbaijani composers use orchestras. She became a full professor at the conservatory in 1996.
Her Career and Achievements
As a pianist, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh has helped share the music of many modern classical composers, especially those from Russia. In the 1960s and 70s, she was the first to perform works by composers like Edison Denisov and Alfred Schnittke in Azerbaijan. She also played music by European composers such as John Cage and Olivier Messiaen.
Ali-Zadeh has often attended music festivals. In 1988, she became a member of the Schoenberg Institute in Los Angeles. She moved to Turkey in 1992 and later to Berlin, Germany, in the late 1990s. Today, she divides her time between Berlin and Baku.
In August 1999, she became the first woman to be a "composer-in-residence" at the Lucerne Festival. This means she was a special guest composer for the festival. She also held this role for the Beethoven Orchester Bonn in 2001 and 2003.
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh has received many awards, including the "People's Artiste of Azerbaijan" in 2008. Since 2008, she has been a UNESCO Artist for Peace. In this role, she helps with UNESCO's programs, especially those focused on children's education. She is also the artistic director of the International World of Mugham Festival.
Her music has been performed by famous musicians like Yo-Yo Ma and Hilary Hahn. The Kronos Quartet, a well-known string quartet, has been a big supporter of her music.
Since 2007, she has been the chairperson of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union. In January 2025, she was re-elected to lead the union for another five years.
Her Music Style
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh is most famous for combining the traditional Azerbaijani mugham music with modern Western composing techniques. She especially uses ideas from composers like Arnold Schoenberg and her teacher, Gara Garayev. She started mixing these styles in the 1970s. Before that, her music was mostly based on Western European modern styles.
One of her notable works is the opera Karabakhname, which she created in 2007. Her music has been published by major music companies.
Selected Compositions
Here are a few examples of Franghiz Ali-Zadeh's many compositions:
- Empty Cradle (1993) – a ballet
- Gabil-Sajahy (1979) – a chamber piece for cello and piano
- Aşk havasi (1998) – a piece for solo cello
- Silk Road (1999) – a concerto for percussion and chamber ensemble
- Naġillar (2002) – an orchestral piece, meaning "Fairy Tales"
Selected Recordings
Many of Franghiz Ali-Zadeh's compositions have been recorded. Here are a few examples:
- Mugam Sayagi (1994) – performed by the Kronos Quartet on the album Night Prayers.
- Crossings: Music by Frangiz Ali-Zade (1997) – an album featuring various works.
- Habil-Sajahy (2002) – performed by the Silk Road Ensemble on the album Silk Road Journey - When Strangers Meet.
- Impulse (2014) – performed by Hilary Hahn on her album In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores.
See also
In Spanish: Frangiz Alizade para niños
