KALVALI ALI DEDE, THE CREATOR OF THE CONTEMPORARY AZERBAIJAN ZURNA-BALABAN SCHOOL – 150

Abstract

In the development of the balaban (a kind of wind instrument) art of contemporary Azerbaijan the famous master Ali Dede from Kalva (Ali Karimov – 1874-1960)  has special services. All possibilities of this instrument are revealed in his playing. The master’s name was among the prominent representatives of professional folklore during the end of the 19^th century and the first half of the 20^th century. There are two main aspects of his creativity – the mighty ability of fighting and cry. The master’s famous melodies are the followings: “Heyvagulu”, “Alchagulu”, “Koroglu nagarasi”, “Gahramani”, “İnnabi”, “Afruza”, “Yasa­me­ni”… He has composed more than 70 zurna-balaban songs which are a decoration of Azerbaijani weddings nowadays.

In the article it is also said about the special place of balaban in the ashug art of Azerbaijan, Ali Karimov’s services (Ali Dede from Kalva) in the development of Azerbaijan ashug art, the art of crafting of his melodies, the ashug art in Turkic World, the future development of folk poem, the durable living of folklore spirit, the necessity of studying mastery of such folk masters.