Retro WWWSC #56

Üzeyir Hacıbəyov, known as the founding father of Azerbaijani classical and opera music, is arguably the most prominent Azerbaijani composer of all times. In Azerbaijan, we celebrate "National Music Day" on the 18th of September, on his birthday, every year. Üzeyir Hacıbəyov composed the music of the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the first opera ("Leyli and Majnun") in the entire Muslim East region.

Cəngi is a folk composition and a national military dance, taking its roots from Oghuz/South-Western Turkic culture. Oghuz Turks, among others, include Turkish, Azerbaijani and Turkmen Turks, hence, you can hear the composition quite often in other Turkic countries, as well. Cəngi used to represent knighthood, heroism, and a call for wars and was employed in especially, military competitions and ceremonies, wrestling matches, or conflicts between oghuz tribes. It was composed by Üzeyir Hacıbəyov in the XX century again and was included in his "Koroğlu" opera, which reflects on the history of Turkic nations.