National Style and Modern Musical Thinking in Tofiq Guliyev’s Song Creativity

Abstract

Tofiq Guliyev was a prominent Azerbaijani composer, pianist, and conductor whose song creativity played a significant role in the development of Azerbaijan’s national music culture. His vocal works are distinguished by melodic richness, emotional depth, and stylistic integrity. Guliyev successfully synthesised elements of Azerbaijani folk music—such as national intonations, rhythmic patterns, and modal features—with the expressive means of modern musical thinking. This organic fusion has ensured the lasting relevance of his songs across different historical periods.

The thematic range of Guliyev’s songs includes love, patriotism, attachment to the homeland, and universal human emotions, which allows his music to resonate consistently with audiences. His compositions reflect characteristic features of Azerbaijani musical tradition, including mugham-based intonations and folk melodic structures, while employing contemporary compositional techniques. Through this synthesis, Guliyev contributed to the evolution of the national song genre, elevating it to a new artistic level and shaping a distinctive musical language that bridges tradition and modernity.