Uzeyir Hajibeyli and the musical heritage of Ganja (insights from personal archival materials)

Abstract

Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the founder of our national musical culture and a key figure in the development
of Azerbaijani literature and culture, also distinguished himself through his significant public engagement in
the 20th century. His activity as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR is particularly
noteworthy. His speeches at the sessions of the
Azerbaijan SSR and the USSR Council of Ministers, as well as his positive responses to calls for assistance,
testify to his compassion and attentiveness.
Uzeyir Hajibeyli visited ancient Ganja on numerous occasions, where he made invaluable contributions to
the development of professional musical culture. He was appointed head of the Department of Art under the
People’s Commissariat for Education established in 1920 and from that time onward, he devoted special
attention to the development of musical culture throughout all regions of Azerbaijan, including Ganja. The
opening of the first music school in Ganja in 1923, followed by a music college and later the establishment
of the Ganja State Philharmonic, was made possible precisely through Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s leadership and
initiative. The personal archive illuminating Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s life and creativity is preserved at the Institute of
Manuscripts named after Mahammad Fuzuli of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. This archive
includes biographical documents, manuscripts of his works, letters and telegrams addressed to him, as well
as various official papers and other materials. Among these documents are also letters and telegrams
specifically related to Ganja.
Keywords: prominent composer, public figure, musical heritage, cultural center, personal archive.