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By Laman Ismayilova

A scientific conference “National musical instruments of Azerbaijan: Our past - Our present” was held in Baku.

Co-organized by the State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the event featured exhibition of national musical instruments, Trend Life reported.

Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents Niyazi Rahimov ,addressing the event, said that the protection of intellectual property rights are considered important not only in industry and trade, but also in culture.

Rahimov noted that the protection of objects of patent law is essential for passing of scientific and intellectual knowledge on to future generations, and for protection of cultural and national heritage.

In turn, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Adalat Valiyev stressed that the national music, including musical instruments, occupy an important place in the history of every nation.

Valiyev noted that the country has the State Museum of Musical Culture, which holds more than 50 ,000 exhibits, including old musical instruments.

He further stressed that the state pays great attention to the development and promotion of the national musical art.

Chairman of Azerbaijan`s Copyright Agency Kamran Imanov , Rector of Azerbaijan National Conservatory, professor Siyavush Karimi, Chairman of the Azerbaijan`s Union of Ashugs, honored art worker Maharram Gasimli and others also ddressed conference.

Later, the scientific conference heard reports on restoration and improvement of the musical instruments.

The Land of Fire enjoys a rich, varied musical tradition. Most of the instruments were appeared in ancient times, while most of them were improved and reached our time. Let’s see some of them.

Saz is the stringed musical instrument of the lute type. The instrument has a pear-shaped body, a neck with tied sliding frets, a wooden soundboard and double or triple strings.

Kamancha is bowed string instrument, which is widespread amongst Eastern and Central Asian peoples under a variety of names.

The folk instrument is described in the works of medieval classical poets. Mir Seyid Ali, representative of the 16th-century school of painting, depicted the barbat (lute), daf ( frame drum) and kamancheh in his work called "A Musical Gathering".

The tar, a long-necked plucked lute, is one of the most important musical instruments in Iran and the Caucasus. The tar is traditionally crafted and performed throughout Azerbaijan, and is depicted on the Azerbaijani national banknote of one manat nominal value.

Oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument with 11 or 13 strings grouped in 5 or 6 courses. Four strings of musical instrument likened to the four elements of nature: fire, water, earth, air. It was often represented in the works of miniature painting.

Balaban is cylindrical-bore, double-reed wind instrument with seven finger holes and one thumb hole. When you play balaban you should use fingers of both hands to open and close certain holes. Balaban can be made of mulberry or other harder woods, such as walnut.

Nagara is a folk drum that is played with the bare hands. It is one of the most popular percussion instruments of the Azerbaijani folk music.

This instrument is described in the Early Middle Age Azerbaijani literary epic, "Kitabi Dada Gorgud.” The rhythmic beat of the nagara is believed to strengthen the heart. Gosha-nagara is Azerbaijani version for small kettledrums.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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