The musical art of Azerbaijan has a long history. It is no coincidence that our people have such a rich musical culture. The Azerbaijani people have come a long historical way of development. During this time, our music has evolved and enriched day by day. Primary information about the development of Azerbaijani music is provided by the rock paintings of Gobustan (XVII-III millennium BC) and Gemigaya (III-I millennium BC). In addition, the epics "Kitabi Dede Gorgud" and "Koroglu", as well as the works of Nizami, Fuzuli, Abulgadir Maragai, Mir Mohsun Navvab contain information about our rich musical art.
        
Since the end of the 19th century, musical majlis (meetings), societies, circles have been organized in a few cities in Azerbaijan. This was a great impetus for the development of our music. In the 80s of the 19th century, M. M. Navvab, together with Haji Gusi, created the “Mejlis of Musicians”, where the art of mugham was discussed. Well-known representatives of art, such as Mashadi Jamil Amirov, I. Abdullayev, S. Shushinsky, Sadykhdzhan participated in these Majlis. The merits of these masters in the development of our music are highly significant.
        
A special role in the glorification of Azerbaijani music at the world level belongs to the Shusha Conservatory. Representatives of the Shushinsky school are Dzhabbar Garyagdy oglu, Mohsun Navvab, Harrat Gulu, Haji geese, Sadyhjan, Meshadi Ishi, Abdulbagi Zulalov, Kecchachi oglu Muhammad, Mukhammed Farzaliev, Islam Abdullaev, Seyid Shushinsky, Zulfi Adygsali, Khan Shushinsky, Khan Shushinsky, Khan Shushinsky, Khan Shushinsky, Khan Shushinsky, Khan Shushinsky. Meshadi Jamil Amirov, Gurban Primov, composers - Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Zulfugar Hajibeyli, Fikret Amirov, Niyazi, Afrasiyab Badalbeyli, Soltan Hajibeyli, Ashraf Abbasov, Suleiman Aleskerov, singer - Rashid Behbudov. Thanks to them, Azerbaijani music gained fame.
      
The role of our world-famous composers in the development of our music should be emphasized. The merits of Uzeyir bey Hajibayli in the recognition of our music at the world level are undeniable. The composer laid the foundations of opera art not only in our country, but throughout the Middle East. The symphonic works of U. Hajibeyli are heard from all known musical scenes and are highly valued. The celebration of the National Music Day is associated with the name of Uzeyir bey Hajibeyli. Maestro Niyazi laid the foundation for the tradition of celebrating the birthday of the great composer as a holiday. The famous composer and conductor Niyazi celebrated this day every year after the death of Uzeyir bey. Celebrating the birthday of Uzeyir bey as the most significant event in our musical history has become a tradition. In accordance with the decree signed by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1995, on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the birth of the brilliant composer, September 18 is annually celebrated in Azerbaijan as the Day of National Music.
        
Today, Azerbaijani music is experiencing a period of prosperity. International music festivals and various competitions, constantly held in our country, serve to popularize Azerbaijani culture and music on a wider scale.
       
Uzeyir Hajibeyli is the founder of the modern professional musical art of Azerbaijan, the national school of composers, the genre of musical comedy, he laid the foundations of opera and operetta in the East, created the state choir, symphony orchestra, enriched the world musical treasury with his immortal works.
        
The literary heritage of Uzeyir Hajibayli is also very rich and valuable. He recorded more than 300 folk songs, wrote marches, cantatas, fantasies, songs, romances, chamber, and choral works. He is the author of the anthems of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and Soviet Azerbaijan.
        
The peak of Uzeyir Hajibeyli's creativity was the opera "Koroglu". It is one of the brightest examples of not only Azerbaijani culture, but also occupies a worthy place among world operas. Uzeyir Hajibayli not only wrote music but was also the author of various textbooks. The scientific work “Fundamentals of Azerbaijani Folk Music”, published in 1945, is still widely used as a textbook today.
        
Thanks to the unique and immortal music of Uzeyir, as well as the recognition of the people and the state, the Days of Uzeyir Music, held annually on September 18, have become a tradition. On this day, various events are held in all corners of our country, in which famous musicians of the world take part.
        
National leader Heydar Aliyev has always shown concern for cultural figures. Today, this policy is successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva. Under their leadership, the anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibeyli is repeatedly celebrated at the UNESCO level.

President Ilham Aliyev pays great attention to the development of musical art in our country. Every year new music schools are being built in our country, concert halls are being repaired and restored, the material and technical base is being strengthened, and successful projects are being implemented to train national musical personnel. The holding of international music festivals in recent years testifies to the development of musical culture in our country. The publication of the album “Karabakh khanende”, the encyclopedia “Uzeyir Hajibeyov” and the “Encyclopedia of Azerbaijani mugham”, as well as the inclusion of Azerbaijani mugham, ashug art, the art of playing the tar, kamancha in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is a clear indicator of attention to our ancient musical culture.

Uzeyir Hajibeyli, whose name we remember today with boundless pride, along with the fact that he laid the foundation for new ways of development in the history of Azerbaijani musical culture, the national school of composers, is also the creator of the first opera, the first musical comedy and the first examples in several other genres in history Azerbaijani music. His bright memory will live forever in the heart of the Azerbaijani people.

Recommended literature:

1. Azərbaycan musiqi dünyası = Azerbaijan music world / red. S. Firudinli ; tərc. G. Pənahi. - Bakı : Nurlar NPM, 2001. - 463 s.
2. Məmmədova, Rəna Azər qızı. Azərbaycan muğamı / R. A. Məmmədova ; elmi red. : E. Babayev. - Bakı : Elm, 2002. - 280 s.
3. Əhmədov, Əhsən Allahverdi oğlu. Muğam operalarının qürubu / Ə. A. Əhmədov. - Bakı : Avropa nəşriyyatı, 2013. - 206 s.
4. İsmayılzadə, Nuridə Cəfər qızı. Azərbaycan musiqi tarixində maarifçilik təmayyülləri: XIX əsrin sonu - XX əsrin əvvəlləri : monoqrafiya / N. C. İsmayılzadə ; red. G. A. Abdullazadə ; Üzeyir Hacıbəyli adına Bakı Musiqi Akademiyası. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2021. - 164 s.
5. Hacıbəyli, Üzeyir Əbdülhüseyn oğlu. Azərbaycan xalq musiqisinin əsasları / Ü. Ə. Hacıbəyli ; ideya müəl., tərt., məsul red. T. Məmmədov ; red. heyəti: F. Bədəlbəyli [et al.] ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Mədəniyyət Nazirliyi. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2019. - 360 s.
6. Səfərova, Zemfira Yusif qızı. Azərbaycanın musiqi elmi: XIII-XX əsrlər /Z. Səfərova ; red. S. Aslanova. - Bakı: Azərnəşr, 2006. - 544 s.
7. Сафарова, Земфира Юсиф кызы. Музыкальная наука Азербайджана (XIII-XX века): [монография] /З. Сафарова ; НАН Азерб., Ин-т Архитектуры и Искусства. - Баку:Азернешр, 2013. - 431 с.