Azerbaijani composer Tofiq Quliyev

Azerbaijani composer, pianist, conductor, author of many symphonic works, cantatas, piano works, People’s Artist of Azerbaijan (1964), one of the founders of Azerbaijani jazz and pop music. He was born on November 7, 1917 in Baku. Tofig Guliyev entered the vocational school at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory at the age of 12, and entered the Conservatory in 1934. He studied piano in Eisberg’s class and conducting in Strasser’s class and graduated from the Conservatory in 1936. In 1931, with the advice of Asaf Zeynalli, he composed the song “Maktabli” to the words of M.A. Sabir. In 1935, he started conducting at the Azerbaijan State Drama Theater named after M. Azizbeyov. In 1936, together with the composer Z. Bagnrov, he prepared the mughams “Rast”, “Segah”, “Zabul”, “Dughah” on the piano. On the initiative of Uzeyir Hajibeyov, he was sent to the Moscow State Conservatory to continue his studies. Soon he started working there as a pianist in the orchestra led by A. Tfasman. He returned to Baku in 1939 and created the “Red Army” ensemble in 1941. He wrote various patriotic songs for the ensemble working in the 402nd division. After the war, he collaborated with a number of theaters. During several years of working with theaters, he performed in William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, Alexander Fadeyev’s “Young Guard”, Jafar Jabbarli’s “Aydin”, Hasan Seidbayli and Imran Gasimov’s “Far Shores”, Rasul Rza’s “Brothers”, Nazim Hikmat’s “Strange Man”. “, Anvar Mammadkhanli composed music for “The Beauty of Shirvan”, Abdulla Shaig’s “El Oghlu” and other performances. Tofig Guliyev’s highly popular “Stepmother” (1958), “under the hot sun” (1958), “Bakhtiyar” (1959), “Meeting” (1955), “The lion left home” (1977), “Mother-in-law” (1978) and wrote music for many other such films. He died on October 5, 2000 at the age of 82 after a long illness. He was buried in Alley of Honor in Baku.

“We will all leave this world, but Tofik’s music will live forever” – Heydar Aliyev.

“The works of Tofik Guliyev are our heritage; they are based on the composer’s talent and his love for the Azerbaijani people, for his native Baku. He was a wonderful person, a wonderful intellectual, a truly outstanding cultural figure, who with his deeds, his role in the public life of Azerbaijan took worthy place in history” – Ilham Aliyev.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended an unveiling ceremony of a statue of prominent composer, People’s Artist, and State Prize laureate Tofig Guliyev in Baku.

Tofik Guliyev’s contribution to culture, not only Azerbaijani, was appreciated during his lifetime: he received the titles of People’s Artist and Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, “Badge of Honor” and other awards and prizes. He won fame and boundless people’s love. It seems he succeeded in everything. Only one dream of the master remained unfulfilled. At one of his performances in 1992, he admitted that he would like to play a concert in Karabakh. He did not live to see the time when this became possible, but his music was heard at the first “Kharybulbul” festival in liberated Shusha. And one of the city streets today bears his name. In Baku, a street and a music school are named after Tofik Guliyev, and a memorial plaque was installed in the house where he lived. There is a monument to him in the center of the capital.

Tofiq Quliyev with his childhood friend Qara Qarayev, another prominent Azerbaijani composer and USSR Public Artist

Rashid Behbudov USSR Public Artist was a legendary performer of Tofiq Quliyev´s music

Baku Magazine 2, March-April 2023