RZAYEVA, Aghabaji

Aghabaji Ismayil gizi Rzayeva was born in Baku, graduated from the Baku Pedagogical College in 1929 and taught in Saray, Kurdakhani and Mashtaga for several years. She studied in the composition class of Uzeyir Hajibeyov at Azerbaijan State Conservatoire. She was the first female composer to receive professional music education in Azerbaijan. Between 1935–1944, Rzayeva played the tar in the Azerbaijan Folk Orchestra. She was also music editor at Azerbaijan Radio. Rzayeva's first important musical work was the "Vətənpərvərlik Marşı" written in 1941 for an ensemble of folk instruments. She is also the author of a number of songs and romances, and the musical comedy "Mübahisə etmə" (1965, with I. Guliyev). Most of her songs (more than 60) are dedicated to children. In addition, Rzayeva composed seven romances to the lyrics of the great poet Nasimi.