Azerbaijan Capriccio

• Date: 1961 -1962
• Composer: Fikret Amirov
• Period: Modern (1910-1949)

Review

Fikret Amirov's conservative, romantic musical style is a synthesis of the folk tradition of his native land, Azerbaijan, and Western classical forms. After early musical training with his father, a noted singer and instrumentalist, Amirov studied composition at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. His teacher, Boris Zeydman, was a former pupil of the son-in-law of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. In 1948, the year of his graduation, Amirov enjoyed his first big success when he received the Stalin Prize for two of his orchestral suites, Shur and Kürd Ovshari. At this time, composers in the former Soviet republics were expected to emulate the classical style of the earlier Russian masters such as Mily Balakirev, Alexander Borodin, Cesar Cui, Modest Mussorgsky, and especially Rimsky-Korsakov. The result, for Amirov, is a blend of two worlds.

The Azerbaijani Capriccio, just over ten minutes in length, is an exotic picture postcard of the composer's homeland: eastern modal flavor, colorful instrumental flourishes, intensely driving brass figures, and sweeping cinematic string passages. A broad, peasant-like feeling in three leads to the dramatic finale. For contrasting works by Amirov, listen to his, Kürd Ovshari, Azerbaijan Mugam No.2 (1948) and Symphonic Dances (1963-64).

Similar compositions: A Night on Bare Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) Spartacus Ballet (1954) by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978)

Recommended recording: Azerbaijan Capriccio on ASV 1014 with conductor Antonio de Almeida and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. ~ Mona DeQuis, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Classical Music of Azerbaijan 1: Symphonic	1997
Fikret Amirov: Azerbaijan Capriccio; A Tale of Nasimi; Kürd Ovshari; Gülistan Bayaty Shiraz	1996
Fikret Amirov: Shur
Fikret Amirov: Shur-Azerbaijan Mugam No. 1; Azerbaijan Capriccio	1998

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