Tofig Gulieyv: Gaytagi sheet music

Throughout history, dozens of minorities residing in the Caucasus developed their energetic, fiery dances, such as Gaytagi. These dances are fast paced, melodically vivid, exciting, and captivating. Gaytagi is danced by men who demonstrate complex and technically challenging leg work filled with rapid movements symbolizing the masculine spirit and energy.

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Tofig Guliyev’s Gaytagi is a virtuoso solo piano piece, a nearly direct interpretation of the original dance choreography for the keyboard instrument. It is percussive and, throughout, imitates the sound of nagara, a double-headed drum instrument of Azerbaijan. Guliyev’s Gaytagi is permeated with the national flavor and is expressive in content. The fierce temperament of the piece is characteristic of folk-dance music. Master of the national song genre, Guliyev created a work that is easily encoded into memory and leaves an enduring impression on listeners. Gaytagi is dedicated to Farkhad Badalbeyli, a well-known Azerbaijani pianist.

This is the first American edition of the Gaytagi initiated by the Azerbaijan-American Music Foundation (AAMF). The edition includes an original solo composition, as well as the two- piano, and one piano, four-hand arrangements allowing additional ensemble playing opportunities for pianists wishing to explore this exciting piece.

Tofig Guliyev (1917-2000) was a distinguished Azerbaijani composer, pianist, conductor, and public figure. The author of symphonic works, cantatas, piano compositions, Guliyev, made a significant contribution to national film and theater music and the development of the national jazz music culture.