Babayev, Andrei

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Babayev, Andrei

Babayev, Andrei, Russian composer; b. Azerbaijan, Dec. 27, 1923; d. Moscow, Oct. 21, 1964. He studied in Baku and played native instruments, and then entered the Baku Cons., where he was a student in composition of Gadzhibekov and Karayev, graduating in 1950. He later took advanced courses with Shaporin at the Moscow Cons. His music is inspired mainly by Armenian folk melodies, and he also arranged songs of Central Asia and India. Some of his original songs (I Met a Girl, Lovely Eyes, etc.) acquired popularity. Other compositions include Eagles’ Bastion, opera (1957), October, cantata (1947), Sym. (1950), Indian Fantasy for Orch. (1958), and pieces for native instruments.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire