Qarabag.com presents information regarding one of the outstanding personalities, who played a great role in the development of Azerbaijani music, a native of Karabakh, the nephew of the great composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov.

Composer, pedagogue and public figure Soltan Hajibeyov was born on May 8, 1919 in the city of Shusha.
[D.H.Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1956, p. 5]

In the autumn of 1930, Soltan Hajibeyov moved from Shusha to Baku, where he first lived with his sister and since 1936 with his uncle, the Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, who played a big role in his upbringing.
[D.H.Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1956, p. 6]
[E.Abbasova. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1965, p. 6]

After completing secondary school Soltan Hajibeyov entered the Baku Music College.
[D.H.Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1956, p. 6]

In 1938-1940 Hajibeyov was the conductor of the Baku Theater of Musical Comedy and in 1940-1942 he became artistic director of the women’s saz group. Hajibeyov’s first work which brought him wide popularity was the operetta “Gizil Gul” (“Red Rose”, 1940)
[D.H.Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1956, p. 12]
[Music Encyclopedia. Volume 1, 1973, p. 871]

In 1939-1946, Hajibeyov studied at the composer department of the Azerbaijan Conservatory.
[D.H.Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1956, p. 6]
[Music Encyclopedia. Volume 1, 1973, p. 871]

In 1944, Soltan Hajibeyov wrote the first symphony which was dedicated to the Second World War (1939-1945). It is one of the first symphonies in the history of Azerbaijani classical music.
[“Сaravan” and Soltan Hajibeyov’s overture. Explanation.1964, p. 9]
[E.Abbasova. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1965, p. 5]
[Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia Volume X, 1987, p. 147]

The Russian composer Reinhold Glière described Soltan Hajibeyov: “Everything suggests that in the course of time, perhaps very soon, Soltan Hajibeyov will become a great composer. His talent is undoubted, he has taste, his technical and compositional skills are obvious. And most importantly, Soltan Hajibeyov feels native national spirit.”
[D.H. Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1956, p. 14]

In 1947 Hajibeyov underwent a study course at the Moscow Conservatory in the class of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
[Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia. Volume X, 1987, p. 147]

In 1948-1958 Hajibeyov worked as an artistic director and in 1955-1962 as a director of The Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall.
[Music Encyclopedia. Volume 1. 1973, p. 871]
[Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia. Volume X, 1987, p. 147]

In 1947 (1948)-1974 Hajibeyov worked as a teacher, associate professor, professor (1964\1965) and rector (1969) of the Azerbaijan Conservatory named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov (now the Baku Academy of Music).
[“Bakinskiy rabochiy” newspaper. 09/21/1974, No. 222 (17139) p. 3]
[D.H. Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1956, p. 9]
[Music Encyclopedia. Volume 1, 1973, p. 871]
[Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia. Volume X, 1987, p. 147]

On December 30, 1950 the premiere of Soltan Hajibeyov’s ballet “Gulshen”, which is the first Azerbaijani ballet on a modern theme, took place in Baku. In 1952 Soltan Hajibeyov was awarded the USSR State Prize for this ballet. The symphonic suite from the ballet “Gulshen” was recorded on the recording discs in the USA.
[“Bakinskiy rabochiy” newspaper. 09/21/1974, No. 222 (17139) p. 3]
[D.H.Danilov. Soltan Hajibeyov.1956, p. 10]
[E.Abasov. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1965, p. 10]
[“Caravan” and Soltan Hajibeyov’s overture. Explanation.1964, p. 7]

Hajibeyov’s symphonic picture “Caravan” was also recorded on recording discs in the USA and performed in Hungary, Japan, Bulgaria.
[E.Abasova. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1965, p. 10]

In 1953-1968 Hajibeyov held the position of secretary of the Board of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan and from 1958(1963) until his death (1974) was a member of the Board of the Union of Composers of the USSR. In 1973 Hajibeyov was elected as a secretary of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan.
[“Bakinskiy rabochiy” newspaper. 09/21/1974, №.222 (17139) p. 3]
[Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia. Volume X, 1987, p. 147]

In April 1962 Soltan Hajibeyov’s overture was performed for the first time by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Chicago (USA) and on November 6-7, 1962 by the Orchestra of the Moravian Philharmonic (now Czech Republic) during public events on the occasion of the celebration of Czechoslovak-Soviet friendship.
[“Caravan” and Soltan Hajibeyov’s overture. Explanation.1964, p. 24;26]
[E.Abasova. Soltan Hajibeyov. 1965, p. 10;12]

In 1973, Soltan Hajibeyov was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the USSR. Hajibeyov was elected as a member of the Baku City Committee, the Nasimi District Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan and a deputy of the Baku City Council of Deputies.
[“Bakinskiy rabochiy” newspaper. 09/21/1974, No. 222 (17139) p. 3]
[Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia. Volume X, 1987, p. 147]

Soltan Hajibeyov died suddenly on September 19, 1974 in Baku. He was buried in Baku, on the Alley of Honor.
[“Bakinskiy rabochiy” newspaper. 09/21/1974, No. 222 (17139) p. 3]
[Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia. Volume X, 1987, p. 147]