Art

- What reforms do you plan to carry out as a new chairwoman of Azerbaijani Composers’ Union?
- The secretariat of the composers’ union will be elected tomorrow. We will debate our plans and necessary changes after the secretariat is determined. After the secretary is elected I will introduce my program to them. I think of changes in the structure of the composers’ union. I will do my best so that Azerbaijani music will be recognized all over the world. Only few composers have had broad relations up to now. My aim is to promote splendid works by outstanding composers, preserve our national music and promote it through the Internet. We want to realize all these activities soon. Besides, there is a problem of copyrights, which is a very serious problem al over the world. We have to protect rights of our composers, national music and ashug music.
- Will some sections of the composers’ union be closed?
- No section will be closed. Symphonic, chamber, pop sections and section on youth’s affairs use to function since Tofig Guliyev’s chairmanship. These sections did much for the preparation for the congress. Some composers say that these sections do not function, but this is not true. If somebody did not have role in the activity of these sections, it does not mean that they do not function. These sections made arrangements for the congress. 116 works by 65 composers were performed in the concert halls within a week. Ramiz Zohrabov and I have been engaged in the preparation for the congress since November. The concerts were wonderful. Chairmen of composers’ unions of eight countries attended the congress. They said they have never seen such a high-level congress. The composers’ unions in their countries never held congress and they do not hope for it.
- What projects regarding the youth do you plan to implement?
- We will give way to the youth. We want our youth to be recognized all over the world. We should prepare our audience ourselves, as we write music not for ourselves but for the people.
- Will you struggle against vulgar songs?
- This is a very serious problem. I hope to realize our plans in this direction. It would be better if there is a representative of the union and censorship in every TV channel. The censorship may not consist of only composers, it is enough if one our representative is represented there. Our people are talented. Everyone who wishes can write music, but the rivalry should be healthy. But we can not dictate them, set up censorship as they are quite independent. People should make a decision which song is good. It should not be solved with SMS. SMS mixes everything.
- Will you visit foreign countries as a chairwoman of the Union?
- I shall have several premiers. Naturally, I will visit those premiers. But I will spend the majority of my time here. I am glad that I had chance to work in Azerbaijan.
- Several composers are dissatisfied with your election chairwoman…
- Everyone expressed his opinion in the congress, polling was held. I have seen a lot of congresses. I worked as secretary in Composers’ Union since 1979. I worked together with Soltan Hajibayli, Gara Garayev, Fikrat Amirov, Tofig Guliyev. Those dissatisfied composers have worked as secretary, their counterparts have never chosen them.
- Composer Arif Malikov expressed his dissatisfaction to APA and said that the elections were transparent…
- Why is he dissatisfied? He also participated in the voting, did not he? My counterparts elected me to the Managing Board in the first round and then 19 people gathered in the second round and initiated the names of two candidates – Arif Malikov and Firangiz Alizadeh. Arif Malikov stood up and began to shout. “What do you propose?,” he was asked. He could say nothing and said that I propose Sardar Farajov to be the chairman. He shared the votes into three parts. Secret ballot was held in front of him, and the votes have been calculated with his participation. Firangiz Alizadeh collected more votes as a result of polling.
- What is your assessment on the sayings before the elections?
- I was not working abroad, I was living there. I am free person. This is title, it is not given to everyone. Rostropovich was living in US, Sank-Petersburg, Moscow, and he gave concerts in the famous scenes of the world. I have the same condition. There are 5 or 6 such famous musicians and they are citizens of the whole world. I have always been the citizen of Azerbaijan. Turkey offered me several times to receive the citizenship of this country. I wrote ballet “Empty cradle” there, but our people do not know the name of this ballet. International festival was opened with my ballet. Suleiman Damiral offered me to become the citizen of Turkey. But I did not agree. I said that though I regard myself Turkish composer, I am Azerbaijani citizen.
- Will the Congress of Composers’ Union be held in time after it?
- Yes. The Congress of Composers’ Union will be held in time according to regulations. /APA/

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