Music is an integral, arguably necessary, part of the human experience. Mugham is the main genre of classical folk art music of the Eastern countries, which has always attracted people’s attention. Originally, the word Mugham comes from Turkish, Persian and Arabic word Maqam, which means a curtain on stringed instruments. This name was given to each Mugham as its main note (Maya, tune) is on one degree of the instrument. Until the XIV century, it was a single musical genre of the peoples of the Middle East, but due to the socio-political changes that took place later, this single musical genre was divided in accordance with the Peoples. Medieval Oriental and European scholars, as well as our contemporary scholars have studied Azerbaijani mughams and written scientific works at various times. 

Classical eastern mugham consisted of 12 main mugham and 6 avazats. The main mughams: Usshaq, Nava, Busilik, Rast, Arag, Isfahan, Zirafkand, Astrurk, Zangula, Rahavi, Huseyni and Hijaz, and avazats consisted of Shahnaz, Maya, Salmek, Novruz, Kerdani, and Guvasht.

Mugham played an important role in the formation of the national and cultural heritage of many nations. Mugham, like Azerbaijani folk music, has its roots in the depths of the Eastern musical culture. The history of Mugham is very ancient. Scientists believe that the creation of Mugham, which is a magnificent monument of Eastern musical art, dates back to the last millennium, to the pre-Islamic era. Its roots are associated with Zoroastrianism. The meaning of the word Mugham is also interpreted as music sent by God.

There are also opinions that the divine power of Mugham purifies the hearts of people. And it is not for nothing that ancient scientists treated people with Mugham sounds. Those who connected various Mughams with planets: “Navo” Mugham with Moon, “Busalik” - Mercury, “Rast” - Venus, “Arag” - Sun, “Ushshaq” - Mars, “Zirafkend” - Jupiter, “Rahavi” - corresponds to the planet Saturn. In ancient times, the music created by professional folk performers was called “Navo”, “Rah”, “Khosrovani”. With the development of music culture, new forms and genres emerged. The formation of Mugham as a genre belongs to the period of the “Muslim Renaissance” of the 12th-13th centuries. During this period, the rise of poetry (Nizami, Khaqani, Nasimi, Fuzuli and other poets) gave impetus to the development of Mugham.

Arabic and Farsi, adopted as languages of poetry in the East, had a great influence on the art of Mugham. The main genre used for Mugham’s narrative is the ghazal, a classical poetic form based upon the Aruz, a “poetic formula created on the ground of the Arabic language. The Mughams created at that period were denoted by Arabic-Farsi names, which remain to this day by tradition. Classical eastern Mugham consisted of 12 main Mugham and 6 Avazats. The main Mughams: Usshaq, Nava, Busilik, Rast, Arag, Isfahan, Zirafkand, Astrurk, Zangula, Rahavi, Huseyni and Hijaz, and Avazats consisted of Shahnaz, Maya, Salmek, Novruz, Kerdani, and Guvasht. At the same time, names of 24 other sections and Zerbi Mughams, as well as Tesnifs are mentioned. But as time went by, mughams changed, but their names remained unchanged in all music of the peoples of the East.

The richness of Mugam art, great existence and eternity is also in conveying these values from age to age. Taking all this into account, in Azerbaijan mugham is usually performed by a singer accompanied by a mugham trio. A song and instrument unit performed by such an ensemble is called a complete mugham set.

Mugham is the common name of the biggest genre of traditional music of Azerbaijan, it applies to all types of mugham forms, although each of them has its own separate name. The main forms of music representing this genre are dastgah (vocal-instrumental or purely instrumental types), mugham (vocal-instrumental, solo-instrumental, and solo-vocal types), and Zarbi-mugham.

The mughams represent the national and spiritual wealth of our people.  There are 7 Main and 3 auxiliary mughams in Azerbaijan. The main mughams are “Rast”, “Shur”, “Segah”, “Chargah”, “Bayati-Shiraz”, “Shushtar” and “Humayun”, the auxiliary mughams are “Shahnaz”, “Saranj” and “Chargah”. Mugham is loved not only in Azerbaijan and the East, but all over the world. It is considered one of the unique treasures of the spiritual heritage of mankind.

The decision to proclaim August 26 as the International Day of Azerbaijani Mugham was made by the administration of the Canadian city of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the leadership of the traditional annual Niagara International Chamber Music Festival 2010.

The most perfect scientific foundation of Azerbaijani mugham was laid by the great composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov in the 20th century. During this period, Mugham, a source of inspiration for Azerbaijani composers and poets, influenced the creation of valuable works of art. Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Muslim Magomayev, Gara Garayev, Fikrat Amirov, Niyazi, Sultan Hajibeyov, Jahangir Jahanghirov, Suleiman Alasgarov, Vasif Adigyozalov and others created valuable examples of art based on Mugham art. The creation of symphonic mughams in the music of Azerbaijan shows the diversity of mugham art, its unlimited possibilities. “Shur”, “Gulustani-bayati-shiraz” by Fikrat Amirov, “Rast” by Niyazi, “Bayati-shiraz” by Suleiman Alasgarov, oratorio “Karabakh Shikastasi” by Vasif Adigyozalov, jazz works performed by Vaqif Mustafazadeh based on the mugham, the tunes he composed captivated listeners in different countries of the world.

Legendary Mejlis of Harrat Gulu Mohammad oglu, Mir Mohsun Navvab in Shusha, Mahmud Agha in Shamakhi, Meshedi Malik Mansurov in Baku, great masters brought up in these traditions – all this shows that Mugham is the native language of our national music. Teaching of mugham was included in syllabus of the first European-type music school opened in Baku in 1922. The art remains a source of inspiration for contemporary Azerbaijani artists, sculptors, poets and filmmakers.

In the 70s of the last century, as part of the activities carried out under the leadership of the national leader Heydar Aliyev aimed at preserving the national values of the people of Azerbaijan, the art of Mugham entered a new stage of development, Mugham performers and those who give life to this art were treated with respect. In 1971, the “Music Plate of Azerbaijan” was included in the “Anthology of World Traditional Music” series of 50 albums of UNESCO, and in 1975, Azerbaijani mughams were released in the “Musical Sources” series. In November 2002, Mugham Art was included in the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO. Today, in Azerbaijan there is deep love and respect for Mugham art and music. Special attention is paid to its preservation and promotion. There is no musical event in Azerbaijan without the sound of Mugham. The International Mugham Center, created by the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, built at a high level, is another expression of attention and care for ancient art.

The world public is delighted with the great potential of this form of music, reflected in the unique performance of mugham by master and innovator Alim Gasimov, who was awarded the International Music Council-UNESCO Music Prize in 1999. It is one of the highest international honors for music.

A series of multilateral events held under the leadership of Azerbaijan’s First Lady, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO, and ISESCO goodwill ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva play an exceptional role in the modern history of Azerbaijani mugham. As a result of this activity, mugham performance in recent years has been going through a renaissance in the true sense of the word, with comprehensive support from various aspects. The inclusion of the intangible heritage of World Culture in the list of values of universal significance by UNESCO’s decision is an assessment of mugham and the art of performing tar as an integral part of the unique cultural wealth not only of our people but of the entire mankind.

On the initiative and with the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, every year, Azerbaijan hosts such international music festivals as the World of Mugham, the Gabala Classical Music Festival, the festival dedicated to Uzeyir Hajibeyov, the Baku Jazz Festival and etc.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has also sponsored major projects for the promotion and development of Azerbaijani culture. Such projects include the Mugham Dastgah. The project aims to restore both old recordings and all sections of skillfully performed mughams.

Particularly noteworthy are also two other projects – multimedia collection “Azerbaijani Mugham” and publication “World of Mugham”. Presented as a teaching aid, multimedia collection “Azerbaijani Mugham” includes information about kinds of Mugham, origin of genres, musical content and composition features.

Another project is dedicated to the International Mugham Festival held in March 2009. The collection consists of 33 DVDs featuring Azerbaijani mugham operas, symphonic mughams, classic Azerbaijani mughams and performances by famous foreign musicians.

The music album “Karabakh Khahende” is one of the successful projects, which has aroused great interest with performances by 24 mugham masters. “Encyclopedia of Mugham” prepared by the Foundation in 2008 is valued as an important publication for the preservation and development of our ancient musical heritage.

The opening of the International Mugham Centre was a particularly significant event among the major projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The Centre was constructed by the initiative of the First lady Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Foundation. The Karabakh Mugham Center named after Uzeyir Hajibayov was constructed in the town of Agjabadi by the initiative of the Foundation. Construction of such cultural centres is one of the factors stimulating the activity of prominent performers and mugham lovers for further development and popularization of mugham.

As the head of state said: “Mugham is the national treasure of Azerbaijan. For centuries, the people of Azerbaijan have highly valued this beautiful art in their lives and kept it in their hearts. Today, the art of Mugham in Azerbaijan is going through a bright period in the history of Azerbaijan. It is protected, promoted and developed by the state.”

Recommended literature:

1. Məmmədova, Rəna Azər qızı. Azərbaycan muğamı / R. A. Məmmədova ; elmi red. : E. Babayev. - Bakı : Elm, 2002. - 280 s.
2. Abdullayeva, Səadət Abutalıb qızı. Azərbaycan folklorunda çalğı alətləri / S. A. Abdullayeva ; elmi red. B. Abdulla. - Bakı : Adiloğlu, 2007. - 216 s.
3. Muğam ensiklopediyası / Heydər Əliyev Fondu ; red. heyəti: M. A. Əliyeva [et al.] ; tərt. G. A. Abdullazadə [et al.]. - Bakı : Musiqi dünyası : TUTU, 2008. - 215 s.
4. Nadirov, İnqilab Ədil oğlu. Muğamlı dünyam / İ. Ə. Nadirov ; red. V. Rəhimov. - Bakı : Adiloğlu, 2009. - 112 s.
5. Axundov, İmran Adil oğlu. Azərbaycan muğamları : monoqrafiya / İ. A. Axundov ; red. H. M. Nəbili. - Bakı : Mütərcim, 2015. - 96 s.
6. Hacıyeva, Mina Telman qızı. Azərbaycan muğam fəlsəfəsi / M. T. Hacıyeva ; red.: T. Ə. Bakıxanov, F. Q. İsmayılov ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Mədəniyyət və Turizm Nazirliyi. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2016. - 200 s.