Azerbaijan National Music Day

Azerbaijani music is the musical tradition of the Azerbaijani people from Azerbaijan Republic. It builds on folk traditions that reach back nearly 100 years. Azerbaijani music has evolved under the badge of monody, producing rhythmically diverse melodies. Music from Azerbaijan has a branch mode system, where chromatisation of major and minor scales is of great importance.

National Music Day in Azerbaijan is celebrated on 18 September each year. The date is the birthday of Uzeyir Hajibeyov, a famous Azerbaijani music leader. The same day is the celebration not only for music lovers, but also for Azerbaijan. The tradition of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's birthday as a celebration was founded by composer and conductor Niyazi who commemorated this day very year after Uzeyir Hajibeyov's death. In 1995, on the 110st birthday of the genius composer, President Haydar Aliyev decreed that 18 September would be National Music Day.