Sadigzade. Space and Culture, India 2018, 6:2 Page | 102 https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v6i2.357 RESEARCH OPEN ACCESS Features of Formation and Development of Azerbaijani Ballet Hijran Azizaga Sadigzade† Abstract Azerbaijani Ballet does not have a long history of development and formation; however, during the analysed period, that is, in the 40-90s of the 20th century, it has become an essential element of the musical culture, both in Azerbaijan and around the world. An essential feature of this genre of artistic creation is a combination of factors and principles of musical construction and expression of Western-European music and, at the same time, folk music, dance, and mugham intonations. Ballets were devoted to historical events and people as well as modern social processes and their participants. Ballet pieces are being continuously improved. In Azerbaijan, the creation of operas, designed for performance, contributed to the growth of the musical culture of the younger generation, as well as general culture and maturation of people, respecting cultural values and actively using those values in their life benchmarks. Over time, some students who took an active part in the performance of operas have become recognised musicians and were awarded honorary titles such as the honoured artist, People's Artist of the Republic, and these are – Samir Jafarov, Teymur Amrakh, Zaur Amiraslanov, etc. Keywords: Azerbaijani Ballet, Azerbaijani Composers, Features of Ballets, Combinations of Folk and Classical Elements † Theatre Department of the Gymnasium of Arts, 1073-Az, Baku, Azerbaijan, G.Javid St., quarter 506, 4, E-mail: [email protected] ©2018 Sadigzade. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Sadigzade. Space and Culture, India 2018, 6:2 Page | 103 Introduction Russian analysts: a historical-cultural approach, represented by M.S. Kaganov (1992), D.S. Although Ballet is not a genre of Azerbaijani national music which has a long history, today Likhachev (1986), A.F. Losev (1995), I.A. Teng it occupies a significant place in the musical (1996); a theory of "subjective" art, culture of our country. Azerbaijani Ballet has represented by L.S. Vygotsky (1986), I. Hete more than a century-long history of existence. (1994), B. Kroche (1902), Z. Freud (1995), Y. The opera history begins with the production of Kheizngi (2001), F. Schelling (1966), A. the first opera by Uzeyir Hajibayov “Leyla and Schopenhauer (1975), K. Young (1998). Majnun” in 1908 and during that time has Theoretical aspects of powerful means of the established itself as the leading genre of music Ballet, specifics of its language and artistic in the formation of the musical and general form, theatre and decorative design and culture of the people of the world as a part of scenography in the works of B.V. Asafyev, K.Y. the musical culture (Gretchen, 1989). Goleyzovski, F.V. Lopukhov, and others (Braylovskaya,2006). Increasing integration also characterised the development of the musical culture of The peculiarities of pedagogics and Azerbaijan in the 19-20th centuries into the performance in Ballet are reviewed in the global musical culture. In particular, there were works of Russian researchers, such as A.Y. many attempts to bring into the national music Vaganova (1934), A.M. Messerer (1990), the genre and intonational originality of (2000), and several Western researchers. European music (Grant, 1967). Formation of This genre in Azerbaijan was researched by the the Ballet genre takes in an essential place in leading musicologists, such as S.A. Kasumova, this process, as this genre today has become N.G. Bagirov, Z.R. Bayramova, L. Farajeva, and one of the indicators of maturity of musical art, others (Zulfugarov and Khalilov, 1976). This making a necessary contribution to the global issue is discussed in textbooks on the history of development of culture in general (Lincoln and the musical culture of Azerbaijan. However, there is a need for systematic and consistent Muriel, 2004). The article begins with the rationale discussing the degree to which the consideration of the history of the formation of Azerbaijani Ballet has been researched. Ballet in Azerbaijan, links between the creation Following this, it discusses the methods and the of this musical genre with music development results and discussion of the research. as an integral part of the spiritual culture and history of social development as a whole. Rationale It would be good to know about the originality It is well known, that: and evolution of Ballet and a few lines on how is Azerbaijani Ballet different from other forms Ballet is one of the most sublime of Ballet. and physically demanding of the arts. Each year, more and more If the opera history in Azerbaijan begins with people flock to Ballet classes and the first opera production in 1908, then the performances. Yet the drama, Ballet history starts much later, with the glamour, and elegance that production of the first Ballet "Maiden Tower" provide the lure and excitement written by Afrasiyab Badalbayli in 1940. The of Ballet cannot compensate for fact is that the main musical genres of the the harsh conditions suffered by Azerbaijani people are folk songs, mugham, professional dancers who are ashug melody. Basically, music is vocal and encouraged to neglect and instrumental. This does not mean that there starve themselves in pursuit of were no folk dances. Dances were widely their art. Gordon, 1984, p. 24 practised during folk celebrations. Both men and women danced. This genre was widely Researchers differentiate various approaches used by people during festivals and had to an understanding of the nature of art by developed throughout the centuries. However, Sadigzade. Space and Culture, India 2018, 6:2 Page | 104 Ballet genre characterised the European Results musical culture, and our composers were the Unlike opera, which was born in Azerbaijan in first to use that genre in the 40s of the last 1908, the Ballet has its beginning from 1940 century. Azerbaijani Ballet does not have a long when Afrasiyab Badalbeyli wrote the first ever history of development and formation, Azerbaijani Ballet, the "Maiden Tower". however, during the analysed period it has Azerbaijani folk music genres such as folk become an essential element of the musical songs, mugham. Mugham is: 1) the general culture, both in Azerbaijan and around the common name of modes of Azerbaijani music. world. An essential feature of this genre of In the past, there were many modes, in the artistic creation is a combination of factors and 20th century, there are seven main modes. principles of musical construction and Each of them has a unique name, such as Rast, expression of Western-European music and, at Shur, Segyah, Chargah, Bayati-Shiraz, the same time, folk music, dance, mugham Khumayun and Shushter. All modes are based intonations. Ballets were devoted to historical on five tetrachords different in the structure, events and people as well as modern social which are connected in a certain way; 2) it is processes and their participants. Ballet pieces also one of the main genres of Azerbaijani folk are being continuously improved. music, a multi-part vocal and instrumental Methods work. Mughams are performed both The applied method of investigation was the completely (Destgah), and in parts by a solo analysis of the works of Azerbaijani authors and singer with instrumental accompaniment or in the historical process of their formation. Each the form of solo instrumental works (on tara, development stage of the development of the kamancha, etc.). Poetic texts of mugham are Azerbaijani Ballet was characterised following lyrical verses (gazelles) of the classics of the general trends in the event of musical Azerbaijani poetry such as Nizami, Fizuli, literature in the region and throughout the Nasimi, Vagif, Sabir, etc., as well as world. The conceptual basis of the analysis was contemporary poets - S. Vurghun, S. Rustam, the systematic approach that allows taking into M. Mushfig.), and minstrel music mainly refers account all the main components in the to the vocal and instrumental performance. development of the Ballet art: general world This does not mean that there were no folk trends in the formation and evolution of dances. On the opposite, alongside songs and modern Ballet, contemporary music and minstrel music, our talented folk musicians musical history in general (Greene, 2010). A created numerous dances which were variety of topics related to public needs performed both by men and women. predetermined the content of operas, their It means that the opera genre was loved by connection with folk melodies, the history of Azerbaijani people and was being developed the nation, its prominent representatives for centuries. However, as mentioned above, (historical figures, epic heroes). The principles the piece that was written following the world of the presentation of the musical text, the Ballet genre can be attributed to the 1940th structure, and composition of these operas are year of the last century. based on the Western European tradition Let's review the formation and development (Gretchen, 1989). process of the professional Ballet genre in Here, I set the task to equip this article with a Azerbaijan (Kasumova and Bagirov, 1984). small overview of the phased development of The creator of the first Azerbaijani Ballet is Ballet in Azerbaijan, its connection with the Afrasiyab i Badalbayli Badal oglu, who was also general direction of the development of a composer, conductor, librettist, music critic classical music, and the characteristic features and publicist (1907–1976). of each composer's creativity. Sadigzade. Space and Culture, India 2018, 6:2 Page | 105 He started working on the "Maiden Tower" her bracelet as a proof.