# Uzeyir Hajibeyov

> Azerbaijani composer (1885–1948)

**Wikidata**: [Q317397](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q317397)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzeyir_Hajibeyov)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/uzeyir-hajibeyov

## Summary
Uzeyir Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani composer, conductor, music educator, and playwright who lived from 1885 to 1948. He is best recognized as a foundational figure in Azerbaijani classical music, noted for composing the "Azərbaycan marşı" (the National Anthem of Azerbaijan) and for his pioneering work in blending traditional mugham and folk music with the opera genre.

## Biography
- **Born:** September 17 or 18, 1885 
- **Died:** November 23, 1948
- **Nationality:** Azerbaijani (held citizenship in the Russian Empire, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and the Soviet Union throughout his life)
- **Education:** Transcaucasian Teachers Seminary (a pedagogical institution in Gori)
- **Known for:** Composing the national anthem of Azerbaijan, pioneering Azerbaijani opera, and integrating traditional mugham with classical music
- **Employer(s):** Baku Academy of Music
- **Field(s):** Music, Classical Music, Opera, Mugham, Traditional Folk Music, Musicology, Folkloristics, Journalism

## Contributions
Uzeyir Hajibeyov actively worked in music and the arts from 1904 until his death in 1948. He is credited with composing the "Azərbaycan marşı," which was adopted as the National Anthem of Azerbaijan in 1918 during the inception of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. He played a vital role in the formalization of professional musical training in the Caucasus region, contributing heavily to the Baku Academy of Music, an institution founded in 1920 that later officially bore his name. Furthermore, he helped found and lead the Composers Union of Azerbaijan in 1934.

## FAQs
**What was Uzeyir Hajibeyov's role in the arts?**
He was a multi-disciplinary figure who worked as a composer, conductor, music educator, writer, journalist, playwright, musicologist, and folklorist.

**What are Uzeyir Hajibeyov's most notable awards?**
He received numerous top civilian and artistic honors from the Soviet Union, including the titles of People's Artist of the USSR and People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR, as well as the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus," and the Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945."

**Where was Uzeyir Hajibeyov educated?**
He received his education at the Transcaucasian Teachers Seminary located in Gori.

**What musical genres and fields did Uzeyir Hajibeyov work in?**
His work spanned classical music, opera, traditional folk music, and mugham. Academically and professionally, he was heavily involved in the fields of musicology and folkloristics.

## Why They Matter
Uzeyir Hajibeyov is the cornerstone of formal musical education and classical composition in Azerbaijan. By integrating traditional Azerbaijani mugham and folk music into Western classical structures like opera, he created a unique national musical identity. His legacy is institutionalized in the Baku Academy of Music—originally founded as the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in 1920—which stands as the first institution of higher music education in the Caucasus. Because of his profound impact on the nation's cultural identity, the conservatory was named after him twice (from 1949 to 2000, and again from 2008 onward). Furthermore, his composition of the "Azərbaycan marşı" cements his status as the voice of the nation's modern independence. 

## Notable For
- Composing the "Azərbaycan marşı," the National Anthem of Azerbaijan (inception: 1918).
- Being a member of the Union of Soviet Composers and a key figure in the Composers Union of Azerbaijan (founded 1934).
- Serving as the namesake for the Baku Academy of Music.
- Receiving the honorary titles of People's Artist of the USSR and People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR.
- Being awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.
- Receiving the Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus" (established 1944) and the Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (established 1945).
- Maintaining an active professional career spanning from 1904 to 1948.
- Being featured in a Google Doodle for his 128th birthday in Azerbaijan.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Born Üzeyir Hacıbəyov on either September 17 or 18, 1885, Uzeyir Hajibeyov was a subject of the Russian Empire during his early life. He pursued higher education at the Transcaucasian Teachers Seminary in Gori, a pedagogical institution established in 1876. This education equipped him with the academic foundation that would later support his diverse roles as a writer, journalist, and educator. 

### Career and Professional Roles
Hajibeyov began his active professional career in 1904, engaging in a wide array of occupations within the humanities and arts. He was not only a composer but also an accomplished conductor, music educator, playwright, journalist, and writer. His scholarly pursuits included musicology—the practical and theoretical study of music—and folkloristics, an anthropological branch devoted to studying traditional beliefs and customs. He was a formal member of the Union of Soviet Composers (an organization founded in 1932 within the Soviet Union) and was a key figure associated with the Composers Union of Azerbaijan (founded in 1934).

### Musical Genres and Contributions
Hajibeyov's creative output bridged traditional Azerbaijani sounds and Western classical forms. He was a primary figure in the fields of classical music and opera (an artform combining sung text and musical score in a theatrical setting), while profoundly utilizing mugham (a folk musical composition from Azerbaijan) and traditional folk music. 

His most historically significant work is the "Azərbaycan marşı," which serves as the National Anthem of Azerbaijan. The anthem's inception was in 1918, aligning with the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first Azerbaijani republic. Later, while living in the Soviet Union (established in 1922), he continued his musical and educational work until the end of his life.

### Affiliation with Baku Academy of Music
Hajibeyov is intrinsically linked to the Baku Academy of Music, a state-owned university and conservatory in Baku, Azerbaijan. Founded in 1920 as the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, it was the first institution of higher music education in the Caucasus. Due to his monumental contributions to the nation's musical heritage, the institution was named after him during two distinct periods: initially from February 1949 to June 2000, and again from September 18, 2008, to the present. The academy itself is physically located at 98 Sh.Badalbeyli st, Baku, Azerbaijan.

### Awards and State Recognitions
Throughout his life, Hajibeyov received numerous prestigious accolades from the Soviet government. He was a recipient of the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. In the realm of artistic recognition, he was granted the titles of People's Artist of the USSR and People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR. Additionally, he received military and civilian labor decorations for his efforts during World War II, specifically the Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus" and the Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".

### Legacy and Digital Presence
Uzeyir Hajibeyov's work period ended with his death on November 23, 1948. He is memorialized globally through extensive documentation and a robust digital footprint. He has a dedicated official website (hajibeyov.com) and is featured across 52 sitelinks on Wikipedia in various languages. 

His enduring legacy is tracked through numerous global authority identifiers, including:
- **ISNI:** 0000000081256809, 0000000391498467
- **VIAF:** 46992942, 9878168109564643630009, 536146998427118940077, 213316590, 6668158915903850000004, 285317087
- **GND ID:** 11895850X
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n85254637
- **BnF ID:** 145739367, 12541494n
- **SUDOC:** 077360419, 137951167
- **CiNii:** DA12022543
- **IMDb ID:** nm0354495
- **MusicBrainz:** 7921bc29-f896-4555-b4ae-82700ffe91c2
- **Find a Grave:** 92063723
- **Freebase ID:** /m/049405
- **Open Library ID:** OL1837980A
- **NKCR:** mzk2005289697

### Aliases and Naming Variants
In historical and international records, Hajibeyov is recorded under several aliases and linguistic variations. These include:
- Uzeyir bey Abdulhuseyn bey oghlu Hajibeyov
- Uzeyir bey Abdulhuseyn bey oghlu Hajibeyli
- Uzeyir bey Abdul Huseyn oglu Hajibeyov
- Üzeyir Hacıbəyov (Native label)

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. Operone
6. MusicBrainz
7. CiNii Research
8. IMDb
9. Proleksis Encyclopedia
10. Carnegie Hall linked open data
11. Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia
12. International Music Score Library Project
13. Musicalics
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. CONOR.SI
16. Quora
17. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hacibeyli-uzeyir)
18. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
19. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data