On May 19, 2024, a solo concert In “My Saz, In My Voice” by Ramin Garayev, one of the talented representatives of the Borchali ashug school, a faculty member of Khazar University, who has represented Azerbaijan’s ashug art in 17 countries of the world, was held at the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic. The concert was held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Khazar University. The musical accompaniment was provided by the Khazar University Chamber Orchestra (artistic director – head of the university’s Music and Art Department, honored teacher, pianist Zulfiya Sadigova) and the “Baku-Tabriz” (Southern Azerbaijan) group under the direction of Elman Ibrahimi.
This marked the first time in Azerbaijan where classical ashug melodies were performed by a chamber orchestra alongside the saz, blending ashug and chamber music in a novel manner. Sevda Rahimova orchestrated the ashug melodies for the chamber orchestra
The well-known host Gorkhmaz Tofiqoglu, who began the concert with the aforementioned introduction, then invited the founder of Khazar University, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Trustees,Prof. Acad. Hamlet Isakhanli, to the stage.H. Isakhanli spoke about the unique aspects of the concert that would be presented to the artists and audience, and extended best wishes to the musicians who created the new project.
Ashug Ramin Garayev showcased a repertoire of saz airs including ” Osmanli divanisi ( “Ottomon Divan”) (lyrics: Ashug Alasgar), “Jelili” (lyrics: Garakhan Akberoghlu), “Koroğlu dübeytisi” (“Koroghlu couplet”) (lyrics: Ashug Murad Niyazlı), “Shashangi” (lyrics: People’s Poet Zalimkhan Yagub), “Godekdonu” (lyrics: Hamlet Isakhanli), “Mansırı” (lyrics: Ashug Hüseyin Javan), “Borchalı” (lyrics: Osman Ahmedoghlu), “Orta Mukhammas” (lyrics: Aghajan), “Gurbani” (lyrics and music: Ashug Kamandar Efendiyev). The concert also featured a joint performance of “Polad Tabriz” by composer Elman Ibrahimi and Ramin Garayev. People’s artist Alim Gasimov, who was the guest of honor of the concert, performed “Sharili”, the lyrics of which were written by Mahammadhuseyn Shahriyar, together with ashug Ramin Garayev. The song composed by Elman Ibrahimi to the words of Imadaddin Nasimi was also performed by the people’s artist.
Khazar University faculty member Mahsati Azafli performed the air “Ordubadi” with lyrics by Mikayil Azafli.
The audience greeted the concert with enthusiastic applause, marking it a success
