Today it seems a little strange to many that a significant part of the outstanding representatives of the Turkmen intelligentsia in the middle of the last century went to boarding schools and colleges. Those who are well acquainted with history do not see anything surprising in this - the bloodiest tragedy of the 20th century has just ended. Orphaned boys and girls of the post-war period swirled in flocks on the streets of cities and towns.
In the first years of peace, everything was done to introduce as many teenagers as possible to study, to give them a profession. The fate of the future first professional Turkmen composer Ashir Kuliyev was no exception in this regard. Boarding school, working as a bookstore seller, studying at the Ashgabat Art College. But the world of music has always attracted him.
Even in early childhood, he was captivated by the magical sounds of folk instruments. The desire to play them was the main thing for the young man. And later, his youthful passion for playing the dutar and setar awakens Ashir's desire to write music himself. This is how his first compositions "Song" and "Oriental Dance" were born, which were first performed at a concert in Ashgabat in 1935.
Studying the creativity of world musical geniuses, improving professional skills while studying at the Moscow Conservatory together with such personalities as V. Mukhatov, M. Kulieva, H. Allanurov for Ashir Kuliev does not pass without leaving a trace.
Having received an excellent professional musical education, A. Kuliyev was one of the first to “try out” many classical musical genres, hitherto unknown to Turkmen music. He penned the first symphonic works "Solemn Overture", the "Turkmenistan" suite, the musical poems "Makhtumkuli", "Sunny Land", a concert for violin and orchestra, and the first piano sonata in his composing practice.
I would especially like to mention the symphonic poem "Makhtumkuli". In this one-part work, the composer created an outstanding musical image of a hero and fighter for the happiness of his people. The poem by Ashir Kuliyev is the first work of Turkmen symphonic music associated with the poet's work. In comparing lyrical, genre-characteristic and epic musical images, the philosophical motives of Makhtumkuli's poetry are revealed - high humanism, faith in humanity, in the triumph of light, truth, happiness.
A talented musician and organizer in the post-war years, he is engaged in pedagogical and administrative activities. He teaches at the D. Ovezov Music College, works as a conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Musical Instruments, artistic director of music broadcasting.
The composer himself has repeatedly admitted in his speeches that national folklore is an inexhaustible source for creating new works for him. His mentors were People's Artist of Turkmenistan Purli Saryev, People's Bakhshi Mylly Tachmyradov and Honored Teacher Maria Geraskina, who became for their student an example of the greatest dedication to their profession and had a huge impact on the professional development of the composer.
Subsequently, being one of the musical masters, People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the State Prize named after Makhtumkuli, holder of many orders and medals, Professor Ashir Kuliev himself becomes an educator of talented youth, including Chary Nurymov, Nury Khalmamedov, Rejep Rejepov and many others.
Today, hundreds of novice musicians use the richest creative heritage of the outstanding Turkmen composer. Solfeggio textbooks based on national music, "Music Theory", "Harmony" and "Dictionary of Musical Terms" in the Turkmen languages are a guide for mastering the basics of musical creativity.
"GA" Correspondent
