Seyid Shushinski
Encyclopedia
Seyid Shushinski born Mir Mohsun Seyid Ibrahim oglu Shushinski (12 April 1889, Horadiz
– 1 November 1965, Baku
), was an Azerbaijan
i folk singer (khananda
).
, Azerbaijan. He lost his father at a young age, and was looked after by his aunt Meshadi Khurzad who was a folk singer. Shushinski received primary education at a religious school in his hometown. Due to his musical talent, he joined his first musical ensemble at the age of 15. He made his first public performance in 1908 in Shusha
, which proved to be a great success and brought the 19-year old singer big fame in the city. At his uncle's insistence, Shushinski completed another 2 years of musical education at Mir Mohsun Navvab's school and was recognized as a professional khananda. His performance was admired outside the Azeri community. In 1911 he was invited by the Armenian club Obschestvennoe sobranie to give a concert in Tiflis (nowadays Tbilisi, Georgia
), first one in a series of remarkable concerts given by Shushinski in this city in the next 8 years. The money made off these concerts were donated to various Azeri publishing houses and spent on training young singers in vocal arts. In 1913 a vinyl record was released in Kiev
containing among others several folk pieces by Seyid Shushinski. In 1919 he moved to Baku.
Shushinski was a soloist of a drama theatre in Baku, and in 1926–1933 he taught at the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire. In 1933 along with Jahan Talyshinskaya
, he founded the Oriental Music Ensemble which toured Russia
, Ukraine
, and Kazakhstan
. In 1933–1938 he worked as the artistic director of the Fizuli State Drama Theatre, still continuing to give concerts in Baku. In 1939–1960 Shushinski was a soloist with the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society. In his last years he was a mugham opera consultant at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
.
Horadiz
Horadiz is a city and municipality in the Fizuli Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 3,950....
– 1 November 1965, Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
), was an Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i folk singer (khananda
Khananda
A khananda is a name generally given to singers of mugham, an Azeri folk music genre. The word is of Persian origin and means "singer"...
).
Early career
He was born in the small town of Horadiz, near present-day FizuliFizuli
Fizuli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. It was named after the Turkic poet Fuzûlî. Its capital is the town of Fizuli. The western half, including capital Fizuli, has been controlled by the breakway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Hadrut Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
, Azerbaijan. He lost his father at a young age, and was looked after by his aunt Meshadi Khurzad who was a folk singer. Shushinski received primary education at a religious school in his hometown. Due to his musical talent, he joined his first musical ensemble at the age of 15. He made his first public performance in 1908 in Shusha
Shusha
Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
, which proved to be a great success and brought the 19-year old singer big fame in the city. At his uncle's insistence, Shushinski completed another 2 years of musical education at Mir Mohsun Navvab's school and was recognized as a professional khananda. His performance was admired outside the Azeri community. In 1911 he was invited by the Armenian club Obschestvennoe sobranie to give a concert in Tiflis (nowadays Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
), first one in a series of remarkable concerts given by Shushinski in this city in the next 8 years. The money made off these concerts were donated to various Azeri publishing houses and spent on training young singers in vocal arts. In 1913 a vinyl record was released in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
containing among others several folk pieces by Seyid Shushinski. In 1919 he moved to Baku.
Career in the Soviet period
After SovietizationSovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
Shushinski was a soloist of a drama theatre in Baku, and in 1926–1933 he taught at the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire. In 1933 along with Jahan Talyshinskaya
Jahan Talyshinskaya
Jahan Mir Rzakhan qizi Talyshinskaya was an Azerbaijani folk singer and theatre actress.-Early career:...
, he founded the Oriental Music Ensemble which toured Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. In 1933–1938 he worked as the artistic director of the Fizuli State Drama Theatre, still continuing to give concerts in Baku. In 1939–1960 Shushinski was a soloist with the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society. In his last years he was a mugham opera consultant at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
The Akhundov Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is a theatre in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was built in 1911.-History:...
.