GULIYEV Ramiz
Dialogues with the Tar

Fy 8197

885016819729
Felmay Records
Azerbaijan

 

The Tar is an acoustic string musical instrument with a long neck and eight- shaped body. The particular place and significance of the Tar in the national culture of Azerbaijan is mainly linked to its important role in the art of Mugham.
This CD presents both the traditional repertoire of Tar as well as modern composer use of the instrument in Orchestral contests.
When speaking about Ramiz GULIYEV, there could be no better description of his talent, than that given by Mstislav Rostropovich, who said: “Ramiz Guliyev’s performance is a miracle. He is the Paganini of the East”.


The Tar is an acoustic string musical instrument with a long neck and eight- shaped body. The Tar of Azerbaijan is played with a plectrum whilst positioned on the performer’s chest.

Throughout the centuries, two, three, four, five and six strings variations of this instrument, had been widely played in Azerbaijan, Central Asia and Iran. Azerbaijani tar has been further perfected into its modern and more sophisticated form with eleven strings and twenty two frets. By its technical and artistic parameters, this Tar outperforms all previous versions, and makes the Tar’s performance more dynamic and virtuoso-like, thus permitting its wider use.
The Art of Tar performance takes an important place in the culture of Azerbaijan. The Tar has been often eulogized in Azerbaijani literature and in the minds of Azerbaijani people considered as an icon of national culture. The particular place and significance of the Tar in the national culture of Azerbaijan is mainly linked to its important role in the art of Mugham.
The technical and artistic abilities of Tar made it possible to perform academic music on it or include tar in a symphonic orchestra. Azerbaijani composers have created a wide repertoire of the musical scores solely for the Tar: these included the parts in national opera, various genres of symphonic and chamber music and concerts for the Tar and symphonic orchestras, as well as many musical pieces adapted for the Tar with piano accompaniment.
The brilliant Azerbaijani musicians pass this Art of performance from one generation to another, by keeping the Tar alive, developing its artistic features, and enriching classical Mugham and its traditional repertoire with their creative contributions and particular manner of performance.

When speaking about Ramiz GULIYEV, there could be no better description of his talent, than that given by Mstislav Rostropovich, who said: “Ramiz Guliyev’s performance is a miracle. He is the Paganini of the East”.
In a lifetime of dazzling success, Ramiz Guliyev has received many titles and awards. This amazing tar performer has held the title of People’s Artist of Azerbaijan since 1988, in 2005 he received the Humay Award, and in 2007 was awarded the Shohrat (Glory) Order. Ramiz Guliyev was born in 1947 in Garabag where he grew up. He first attended the Elementary Musical School and then, the Musical College in Agdam. He then proceeded with his musical education at the Azerbaijan National Conservatoire in Baku, thus obtaining full formal musical education. Besides the traditional Mugham repertoire, Ramiz Guliyev is apt to perform many works of Azerbaijani composers, as well as works of European composers adapted for Tar. His academic career that started in 1974 had been evolved from an ordinary music teacher to the professor and the head of the Folk Music Chair. Now, Ramiz Guliyev teaches at the Baku Music Academy. He has nurtured dozens of talented Tar performers, including world famous musicians such as Malik Mansurov. However, his performance art still remains the paramount for all these musicians.