Asya Bakhish Sultanova (16 October 1923 – 22 November 2021) was an Azerbaijani composer who is best known for her works for children and her collaboration with singer
Muslim Magomayev.
Biography
Sultanova was born in
Baku
Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...
. Her father was a geologist, and her mother was an English teacher. She studied at the Azerbaijan Conservatory from 1942 to 1944, and at the
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory, also officially Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory () is a higher musical educational institution located in Moscow, Russia. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in musical performance and musical research. Th ...
, where she graduated in 1950. She remained in Moscow after graduating and lived there until her death.
Her teachers included
Evgeny Golubev and
Vissarion Shebalin
Vissarion Yakovlevich Shebalin (; 29 May 1963) was a USSR, Soviet composer, music pedagogue. Rector of the Moscow Conservatory (1942-1948). People's Artist of the RSFSR (1947).
Biography
Shebalin was born in Omsk, where his parents were school t ...
, who encouraged her to incorporate Azerbaijani folk tunes in her music.
She was also mentored by Azerbaijani composer
Kara Karaev.
Sultanova married, then divorced, musician and actor
Vladimir Shainsky. She presented recitals throughout the Soviet Union, and worked at a film studio. She first heard Muslim Magomayev sing in 1963. They collaborated on three songs, and she introduced him to Armenian composer
Arno Babajanyan.
In 1967, Sultanova was awarded the title “Honored Worker of Azerbaijan.” During an interview in 2014, she estimated that she had composed 80 songs, and discussed her current project, “Ode to Friendship of Peoples.” She said, “Peace is needed on Earth - that’s what matters.”
Sultanova composed music for texts by
Gabriel El-Registan,
Elchin Safarli, and others.
She died on 22 November 2021, at the age of 98.
Ушла из жизни композитор Ася Султанова
Compositions
Chamber
*''Variations'' (violin and piano)
Orchestra
*Concert March
*Waltz
Piano
*''Sonata No. 1''
*''Sonata No. 2''
*''Sonatina''
*Twelve Pieces for Children
Vocal
*“If You are With Me” (with Muslim Magomayev)
*“Russia”
*“Stars of Baku” (with Muslim Magomayev)
*“The Man I am Waiting For” (with Muslim Magomayev)
References
External links
*
Hear ''Three Pieces from Children’s Pictures'' by Asya Sultanova
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sultanova, Asya
1923 births
2021 deaths
Azerbaijani composers
Moscow Conservatory alumni
Musicians from Baku
Azerbaijani women composers