FeMusa Orchestra | A. Alizadeh - Symphony No. 4 (Alla Mugham), 3rd mov (UK Premiere)

UK Premiere of Agshin Alizadeh's - Symphony No. 4 (Alla Mugham), 3rd mov

Performed by FeMusa Orchestra (www.femusa.co.uk)

Khojaly Commemoration Concert
26th February 2014
St John's Smith Square, London

Agshin Alizade (1937-2014) is widely acknowledged as one of the most brilliant contemporary Azerbaijani composers. In particular, he has made a significant contribution to the development of Azerbaijani ballet, and received the People's Artist of Azerbaijan award in 1987. He previously headed the Azerbaijani Composers' Union and was Secretary of the Soviet Composers' Union. His works include five symphonies, choral works, instrumental pieces for violin and piano, and scores for feature films, documentaries and plays.
Symphony No.4, composed in 1984, is written in the style of its suggested title -- 'alla Mugham'. One of the folk music genres of Azerbaijan, mugham has a non-metrical form based on a complex modal system that features a high level of improvisation. The fragment receiving its UK premiére this evening is the third movement of the Symphony No. 4, which incorporates much contemporary material, interspersed with elements that emulate the sound of mugham singers.
Mr Alizade's ballets include Journey to the Caucasus, which reflect events from the history of Azerbaijan, including the life of the poet Natavan and the Azerbaijani cities visited by the French author Alexandre Dumas, best-known as the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.

Camera & Editing: Tom Bomford, Matt Jolly, Matt Dove
Sound: Alex Barnes