BLLOGU’s second playlist within the ‘Listening Journal’ comes from the Azerbaijani pianist, composer and producer, Etibar Asadli. The theme ‘Music from Azerbaijan’ brings us to different sounds from many composers and performers such as Vagif Mustafazadeh, Fikret Amirov, Qara Qarayev, Nermine Memedova, Farghana Qasimova, Chingiz Sadykhov.
During this musical journey we will get acquainted with the compositions of the mugham tradition, a complex form of Azerbaijani art that combines classical poetry with improvisation, as well as various traditional instruments. Starting with the sounds of the 19th century, we will gradually become part of the contemporary scene, experimenting through jazz and new waves. To accompany the list, Etibar Asadli shared this description on the selected topic:
“In this playlist I have collected pieces from many different eras, starting from the classical period. We will start from the end of the XIX century to the end of the XX century and you will also hear music from today’s musicians. You will also have the opportunity to listen to the national musical instruments of Azerbaijan, such as Tar, Kamancha, Balaban, Oud, Tutek, Zurna, among others. I have incorporated the well-known mugham tradition of Azerbaijan, both from the perspective of the older generation and that of contemporary musicians. Most importantly, there will be plenty of mergers, such as the one between modern jazz and electronic music. There are also some experiments with my music, especially in the style of mugham. And of course, you can listen to the performances of the most famous musicians of Azerbaijan. I hope everyone enjoys this experience. I invite everyone to discover this beautiful music through this playlist. Thank you all and stay well!”