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Museums

Following their ambigous geographic location, Azeri’s have their feet in both Islamic and European cultures, the latter mostly Russian and Turkish, struggling with deep divisions between the old and the new. About 90% of the population is ethnic Azeri, with a smattering of Dagestanis, Russians, Armenians, Jews and other groups. Most Azeri’s speak Azeri, a close cousin of Turkish, though many also speak Russian. The younger generation is now very keen to learn English. Even more than with Turkey, the 7 million Azeri’s living in the Republic of Azerbaijan feel closer to the 10 million (more Islamicized) Azeri’s living in Iran, in what is usually called "South Azerbaijan". Although at state level there is no conflict, there are important movements in civil society on both sides of the border, advocating a united Azerbaijan.

Last updated: 18 Jan 2005 a z e r b a i j a n

A literature of "longing" for reunification has also developed during the last half century (e.g the works by Mirza Ibrahimov, Balash Azeroghlu or by Suleyman Rustam), with a folklore based in recent heroes, such as Semed Behrangi and Jafar Pishevari. Despite years of Soviet attempts to wipe it out, Islam remains the most popular religion with the Azeri’s, followed distantly by various Orthodox Christian branches. Like in Iran, the majority of Azeri’s are Shia Muslims (70%), whereas Sunni Muslims make up most of the Islamic population of the rest of the former Soviet Union.
Sunnis, the more secular branch, practice leadership by consensus, whereas Shia leadership derives its authority by divine right. In spite of the divisions elsewhere, in a spirit of tolerance, the mosques in Baku serve both the Shia and the Sunni communities. The Azeri Shia community practices the Jafarite rite.
Azerbaijan is one of the most liberal Muslim-majority states, although arranged marriages are common among the urban population, and marriage via kidnapping is not rare in the country side. There is an attempt by foreigners (Iranians, Pakistanis, Saudis, ...) to introduce Islamic fundamentalism.
The country's musical traditions are preserved by ashugs, or poet-singers, who often strum the kobuz (a stringed instrument) while singing of the deeds of ancient heroes. Another popular form of music in Azerbaijan is mugham, which is improvised by voice and wind and stringed instruments and is often compared to jazz.
The country has a healthy literary heritage, much of which derives from an oral tradition of poems and ancient epics (e.g. by Nizami). Mirza Fath Ali Akhundzada was a literary light in the 19th century, helping to develop a modern literature, especially in drama. During Stalin's reign, many of the country's writers and artists were victims of the purge.
Azeri architecture went through many different stages over the centuries but the lasting legacies belong to the medieval period, especially the Maiden Tower and the palace of the Shirvan shahs in Baku. The capitals ornately decorated subway stations are its most recent architectural marvels.
Azerbaijan is famous for its carpets, but also for its embroidered textiles. Artists use colourful threads (sometimes made of gold or silver) and beads to create geometric patterns on a thin wool fabric called tirme. The country's many bright-plumed birds and other animals have also featured in designs. Other popular Azerbaijani textiles include rugs, veils, shawls and towels.
Azeris are good fans of the 7th art, and cinema made at the Azerbaijan Studios in Baku reached international prominence during the Soviet period, however difficulties after independence reduced significantly the number of Azeri feature films.

traditions
Azerbaijan is a country where national traditions are well preserved. In Azerbaijan where are a lot of traditions. The holidays on Moon calendar, "Gurban bayram" (the Feast of Sacrifice), "Ramazan" holiday (holiday after fasting) are marked as before. "Novruz" holiday (novruz is translated as "a new day") is the most ancient and cherished holiday of a New Year and spring. It is celebrated on the day of vernal equinox - March 21-22. Novruz is the symbol of nature renewal and fertility. Agrarian peoples of Middle East have been celebrating Novruz since ancient times.
Preparations for Novruz start long before the holiday. People do house cleaning, plant trees, make new dresses, paint eggs, make national pastries such as shakarbura, pakhlava and a great variety of national cuisine. Wheat is fried with kishmish (raisins) and nuts (govurga). It is essential for every house to have "semeni" - sprouts of wheat. As a tribute to fire-worshiping every Tuesday during four weeks before the holiday kids jump over small bonfires and candles are lit. On the holiday eve the graves of relatives are visited and tended. Novruz is a family holiday. In the evening before the holiday the whole family gathers around the holiday table laid with various dishes to make the New Year rich. The holiday goes on for several days and ends with festive public dancing and other entertainment of folk bands, contests of national sports. In rural areas crop holidays are marked.

main museums in Baku
In the years following independence, a lot of attention has been poured on the museums by the government, mainly as a way of weaving and reinforcing national identity. Museums serving the Soviet ideology are now they part of history. E.g., the Lenin museum now houses the magnificent collection of the Museum of Carpet-Making and Folk Crafts, previously located at the Djuma Mosque in the Old Town. Sign of the times!


The Azerbaijan State Museum

History Museum
4 Zeinalabdyn Taghiyev St., 370005 Tel: 93-36-48, 93-74-48

Bul-bul Memorial Museum (singer)
15 Bul-bul Av., 370000 Tel: 93-56-97

Historical & Architectural museum (Shirvan shahs' Palace) 65 Asaf Zeinally st.,370004 Terl: 64-11-4492-22-25, 92-09-13

Museum-Apartment of Niyazi (conductor)
21 Bul-bul Av., 370000 Tel: 93-18-36

Museum of Art (R.Mustafaev)
9/11 Niyazi St., 370001 Tel: 92-57-89, 92-51-17

Museum-Apartment of Azim Azimzade (artist)
157 Dilara Aliyeva St., 370014 Tel: 94-05-69

Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature
53 Istiglaliyyat St., 370001 Tel: 92-18-64, 92-74-03

Museum-Apartment of Abdulla Shaig (writer)
21 Abdulla Shaig St., 370006 Tel: 92-74-33

State Museum of the History of Religion
15 Uzeyir Hajibeyov St., 370000 Tel: 93-07-08

Museum of the History of Medicine
18 Najafgulu Rafiyev St., 370025 Tel: 66-00-48, 66-01-97

Museum of Carpet-Making and Folk Crafts
123a Neftchilar Av., 370000 Tel: 93-05-01, 93-66-85

Museum of Natural History (Hassanbey Zardabi)
3 Lermontov St., 370006 Tel: 92-06-67

Museum of Theatre (Jafar Jabarly)
44 Hamid Sultanov St., 370073 Tel: 38-43-50

Museum of Education
11 Niyazi St., 370001 Tel: 92-04-53

Museum of Musical Culture of Azerbaijan
9 Mejidov St., 370601 Tel: 92-53-06

Memorial Museum of Nariman Narimanov (statesman)
35 Istiglaliyyat St., 370001 Tel: 95-05-15

Museum of Independence
123a Neftchilar Av., 370000 Tel: 93-92-93, 93-30-17

Memorial Museum of Mammad Said Ordubady (writer)
19 Khagani St., 370000 Tel:98-55-85

Memorial Museum of Hussein Javid (writer)
8 Istiglaliyyat St., 370001 Tel:92-06-57

House-Museum of Uzeyir Hajibeyov (composer)
67/69 Shamil Azizbekov St., 370009 Tel:95-30-61, 95-25-34

House-Museum of Samad Vurgun (poet)
4 Teymur Aliyarbeyov St., 370000 Tel:93-56-52

House-Museum of Jafar Mammadguluzade (writer)
6 Suleiman Taghizade St., 370001 Tel:92-24-09

the Nizami museum
The great Azerbaijan poet Nizami Ganjavi is one of the most brilliant masters of world literature. His masterpieccs are the best achievements of artstic genius of mankind. As a poet and citizen h was the bearer of the most advanced ideas of that epoch. These ideas found their reflection in his famous Khamsa (Quintuple) composed of five long poems, immortal pearls of classical Azerbaijan poetry, i. e. “Storehouse of Mysteries”, “Seven Beauties”, “Chose and Sharing”, “Leal and Manhunt”, “Iskandername”.
By the harmonious order and distinct layout, by extraordinary arrangement and vividncss of images each of these long poems became a novel phenomenon not only in Azerbaijan, but in the whole of Eastern and world literature.Nizami’s poems possess inexhaustible artistic merits, are wound of wisdom and profount philosophical thoughts. Nizami’s poetry is full of unbending optimist, belicf in the creative force.

the art museum
This museum was originally the private residence of H. Z. Taghiyev, one of Baku's most famous and philanthropic oil - millionaires. It's worth a visit simply to see the decorative interior of the mansion. Many formal receptions and state functions are still held in this museum today. You'll also find attractively assembled exhibits covering the history of Azerbaijan and providing insight into the social, cultural and everyday life up to the present day. This is a "must see" even for visitors who dislike.

carpets >More
Carpet weaving is one of the oldest and most traditional forms of art in Azerbaijan. You'll find two types of carpets: knotted and flat-weaved. The skills of this art have been handed down from one generation of artisans to another for centuries, and the motifs and the colours used form an essential part of the culture of Azerbaijan, and seem able to speak to Azeri’s of every background, whether simple or sophisticated.
There are three types of carpet shops operating in Azerbaijan. The first are government-owned and operated; they are old style with unhelpful sales staff. The second type are the consignment shops, where things are sold for their owners by the shop staff and the shop gets a commission on each sale. The third style is the modern, western, capitalist shop. These sell everything imaginable, sometimes from the same display case. There are dozens of private carpet dealers in Baku, with world-wide connections, many are located near the carpet museum. Some of these carpet dealers sell out of their homes, many are Jewish. Quite often one can distinguish the carpet shops easily: an old carpet fragment is hung on the outside of the door - an excellent form of advertisement with no language skills required. Often the shops work as meeting places from where you may be taken to the dealer's house to be shown better pieces, or to be led to unofficial dealers. The value of a carpet is determined by a complex mix of factors including quality, colour, age, fashion and transportation but naturally very susceptible to each moment's balance of market offer and demand. Carpet prices tend to be high throughout Azerbaijan. Just because a carpet is in Baku it does not mean it will be cheaper there than in the West, the noveau riche in Azerbaijan have created a new local demand and the local dealers are well informed of world prices.
Export can be difficult due to bureaucratic requirements, even for new carpets. Expiates often encounter problems when moving out of Azerbaijan trying to take their own used carpets. So if you are going to be a Baku resident have this in mind, before starting to buy expensive carpets. The only easy way to smuggle Azeri carpets out of the country is via train to Russia, where it is not even checked for. From Moscow, it's simple to get carpets out of the country. Unless you smuggle, you will find little cost advantage to buying carpets in Baku for export, versus buying in the West.
If you want to learn more about he carpets of Azerbaijan, the carpet museum is a good place to start, the impressive building, still known for its original purpose as the Lenin museum is located on 123a Neftchilar av. Its collection was enriched with the carpets brought from Shusha carpet museum, evacuated before the Armenian advance. Some good reference books for the prospective buyer are: "Bennet's Oriental Rugs - Vol I - Caucasian" (1993) and Ulrich Schurman's "Caucasian Rugs" (last reprinted in 1990).
Azerbaijan became home to such renowned poets as Nizami, Nasimi, Khataii, Fizuli, Vagif, Sabir, Hadi, Ashug Alesker and attracted brilliant architects such as Abubekir, Adjemi Nakhchivani and talented artists like Sultan Mohammed.Azerbaijan gave birth to the Eastern pioneer of writing for the theatre, Mirza Fatali Akhundzade and subsequently the first theatre in the East was opened in Baku 1873. The first Moslem newspaper in Russia "Ekinchi" was launched in 1871, edited by Hasan bey Zardabi. The Azerbaijan born Djalil Mamedguluzade published the satirical and democratic magazine "Molla Nasreddin" in 1906 which awakened the entire Eastern region. At the start of this century the outstanding thinkers - Ali bey Huseinzade and Ahmed bey Agaoglu spread their doctrine of ideas concerning the unity of Turkish peoples from Azerbaijan to Turkey and beyond. In 1908, Baku, Uzeur Hhadjibeili, aged only 22 years old staged the first Eastern opera "Leili and Medjnun". Azerbaijan also gave birth to a group of politicians who struggled against the Russian starriest autocracy. This group included Alimardan bey Topchubashov, Nariman Narimanov and Mamed Emin Rasulzade.
Carpets - making is one of the oldest and most popular forms of applied are in Azerbaijan. The traditions of this art, which is so loved by the Azerbaijan people, have been handed down from one generation of carpet - weavers to another for many centuries. The language of this art, its designs and colors, has always been understood by all.
Unknown masters of the past made unique carpets which continue to amaze and please us with their artistic detection.
Magnificent carpets and carpet articles made by Azerbaijan craftswomen are in the collections of the world's largest museums - the Hermitage in Leningrad, the Victoria and Albert in London, the Textile in Washington, the Louvre in Paris, the Topkapy in Istanbul, and others.
Historical sources abound in references to the high level of carpet - making in Azerbaijan and the export of these carpets to different countries. The prominent 10th - century Arab historians, Abu - Djafar - Mohammed Tabari and Al - Mugaddasi, noted that excellent carpets were made in the Azerbaijan town of Barda.
The ancient folk epic "Dede Korkud" (11th - 12th centuries) especially praised purple Azerbaijan carpets. Colorful Azerbaijan car pets were admired by the Flemish traveler, missionary Guillaume de Rubrouck (13th century) and the Venetian explorer Marco Polo (13th center).
Significantly, beginning from the 15th century, Azerbaijan carpets figured in the paintinfs of European artists, among them Hans Holden the Younger and Hans Mumbling. Mention of gorgeous Azerbaijan carpets is found in the notes of the English traveler Anthony Jenkinson (16th century) and the Dutch seafarer Jan Strays (17th century). Both pile and pieces carpets are made in Azerbaijan.
In making carpets, Azerbaijan masters put into them all their hearts and minds, applied all their skill and lent their works a distinct national color.
The art of carpet - making is still alive in Azerbaijan. While following classical traditions, contemporary masters impart a new meaning to old motifs. At the same time, new compositions are being elaborated to reflect the present day of the people.

the carpet museum
Baku’s most extensive carpet exhibit is now is now housed inside what used to be the Lenin Museum. The Carpet Museum has recently been named after the late Latif Kerimov who was the founder of theoretical research on Azerbaijan carpets. Kerimov was also responsible for classifying Azerbaijan carpets into 144 specific types and for writing three major volumes identifying and illustrating thousands of individual carpet design elements found throughout Azerbaijan.

Shusha center of Azerbaijani music
Shusha has been known since ancient times as a center of music and was famous all across the Transcaucasus. The Russian musicologist V. Vinogradov wrote: "Shusha's musicians created the tradition of Azerbaijani music and presented it not only in their homeland, but also in other countries of the East." There was lots of music here, more than in any other region of Azerbaijan; it was possible to hear folk performers playing different national musical instruments, such as: tar (a stringed musical instrument played by plucking), kemancha (a string musical instrument played with a bow), balaban (a woodwind instrument), def (a percussion instrument), saz (a string instrument played by plucking with a plectrum) and other types.
At the end of the 18th century the accumulation of a tradition of professional musical performance created the conditions for the appearance of a new musical-poetic tradition. Thus, traditional forms of musical genre and creative art acquire features, which later become the foundation of the concert, theatrical and vocal styles of the 20th century. It was Shusha, the rich artistic life of which is marked by many bright events and talents that stimulated the rapid growth of twentieth century Azeri music.
At the close of the eighteenth and at the beginning of the nineteenth centuries, famous Shusha singers Shakhsanam oglu Yusif, Mirza Husryn Gasanja, Mirza Ismail widely popularized classic mugams - a genre of professional Azerbaijan folk music, the distinctive feature of which is the improvisation of melodic patterns; and laid the foundation of the Khanende - singer's art, when the singer performs mugams with perfect mastery.
There are 7 classical forms of mugam. These are: Rast, Shur, Seygah, Chaargah, Bayati - Shiraz, Shushter, Humayun. At the same time, each of these mugams has a fixed number of parts. And only singers, who could perform all parts of all of the mugams correctly, deserved the name Khanende. Later musicians, who had previously sung solo, began to organize the so-called "Mejlises", something like the "musical salons" of today. The organizer of the first literary - musical mejlis in the eighteen - seventies was Kharrat Gulu Mohammed ogli Yusifi. A religious man, Kharrat Gulu was nonetheless the most honored music expert of his time. He had a wonderful voice, knew classic eastern poetry very well and had an uncommonly subtle feel for mugams, their philosophic depth and contains.
Kharrat Gulu Mejlis had much in common with "music schools" because their essence lay in the principle of teaching religious ceremonies and learning the Koran with the use of improvised mugams. For his school he selected musically gifted boys with developed voice. Such distinguished Azerbaijan musicians as Haji Gusi, Meshedi Isi, Kechachi oglu Mohammed, Jabbar Garyagdy, Mirza Sadykh Asad oglu and Bul - Bul graduated from his school. Pupils and followers of Kharrat Gulu's school contributed to the development of the oral tradition in professional Azerbaijani national folk music. Among these a special place is given the musician and innovator Mirza Sadykh Asad oglu, who refined a musical instrument, the tar, which is widely used in Transcaucasian republics, Middle Asia and Dagestan.
Owing to his redesign, some changes were made in the construction of the tar that undoubtedly led to the instrument's development. If before, the tar, that undoubtedly led to the instrument's development. If before, the tar had been played held in one's the lap, after this reworking it was held over the chest while playing and that created more possibilities for the development of right hand playing technique. Besides, to the original five strings of the tar the musicians added six main and two resonating strings, changed the step scale, which promoted an increase in expressive and technical potential of the instrument, expanding the range of sound, and allowing it to achieve a higher level of performance. The significance of the improved tar the performance of Azerbaijan folk music and mughams, in particular, is confirmed by the words of Afresiyab Badalbeyli, a native of Garabagh, the author of the first ballet in the East "Giz Galasi"("Maiden Nower"), first night of which took place in 1940:"... after Mirza Sadykh, the essence of Azerbaijan mughams, their expressive means, power of impact and performing methods rose to new heights. Mirza Sadykh opened a new page in the history of Azerbaijani music".

Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir Hajibeyov (1885-1948) is remembered and loved as the Founder of Composed Music in Azerbaijan. During the tumultuous years at the beginning of the 20th century, this musical genius refused to turn his back on the music of his youth and his heritage. Amidst fierce opposition and pressure, he paved the way to introduce Eastern musical elements (folk melodies, modal scales and traditional instruments such as tar, kamancha, zurna) into Western musical styles and forms (chorus, opera, and symphonic music). These four works presented here rank among Hajibeyov's finest dramatic pieces and exemplify his unique synthesis of East and West. The original recordings (mostly from the 1970s and 1980s) reflect a time when vinyl LP records were popular. Unfortunately, since technology has changed, contemporary music lovers were deprived of some of the earlier superb performances of Hajibeyov's works, including several which were conducted by the Maestro Niyazi (1912-1984).

the decorative and applied art
Over the century-old history the Azerbaijan people have created a rich and distinctive culture, a major part of which is decorative and applied art. This form of art rooted in hoary antiquity is represented by a wide range of handicrafts, such as chasing, jeweler, engraving in metal, carving in wood, stone and bone, carpet-making, lasing, pattern weaving and printing, knitting and embroidery. Each of these types of decorative art, evidence of the and endowments of the Azerbaijan nation, is very much in favor here. Many interesting facts pertaining to the development of arts and crafts in Azerbaijan were reported by numerous merchants, travelers and diplomats who had visited these places at different times.
The Italian traveler Marco Polo (13th century) noted the beauty of silk wares from Shemakha and Barda. The English merchant and traveler Anthony Jenkinson (16th century) who had visited the local ruler in his summer residence marveled at its splendor. "The king was sitting in a rich tent embroidered in silk and gold", he wrote, adding that the ruler's garments were decorated white pearls and gems.
The time when the art of embroidery began to spread in Azerbaijan can be established on the basis of archaeological findings. The simplest ornamental elements similar to those used in embroidery - straight and broken lines, zigzags, dots, circles, triangles and lozenges- are found on pottery of the early Bronze Age (dated in Azerbaijan as 3,000 B. C.).