Karayev, Kara (Abulfazogli)

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Karayev, Kara (Abulfazogli)

Karayev, Kara (Abulfazogli), Russian composer; b. Baku, Feb. 5, 1918; d. Moscow, May 13, 1982. He studied piano with Sharoyev at the Baku Music Technical School (1930–35) and then composition with Rudolf at the Azerbaijani Cons.; later took courses in composition with Alexandrov and Shostakovich and instrumentation with Vasilenko at the Moscow Cons, (graduated, 1946). He taught at the Azerbaijani Cons, (from 1946), serving as its director (1949–52). His music is derived mainly from his semi-oriental environment, comprising not only the native Tartar motifs, but also other Asian resources. Particularly effective are his theatrical spectacles featuring native dances and choral ensembles.

Works

dramatic:Opera: Fatherland (1945). ba11et: 7 Beauties (1952); On the Track of Thunder (1958). orch.:Poem of Joy for Piano and Orch. (1937); 3 syms. (1944, 1946, 1965); Leyly and Medzhnun, symphonic poem (1947); Albanian Rhapsody (1952); Don Quixote, symphonic sketches (1960); Violin Concerto (1967). other: Chamber music; piano pieces; oratorio; cantatas; film scores.

Bibliography

L. Karagicheva, K. K. (Baku, 1956).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire