Azerbaijani and Kurdish artists convey peace messages after Nevruz

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Azerbaijan’s kemancha virtuoso İmamyar Hasanov and the well-known Kurdish tambour artist from Iran, Ali Akbar Moradi, visit Istanbul and call for peace and friendship. ‘Azerbaijani people know that conflicts with Armenia are political, and they are fed up with it,’ says Hasanov. Mentioning the Kurdish problem, Moradi says, ‘War is of no use for anyone’

İmamyar Hasanov (R) and Ali Akbar Moradi

İmamyar Hasanov, an Azerbaijani kemancha virtuoso, and Ali Akbar Moradi, the most famous tambour artist of the Kurdish diaspora from Iran, were in Istanbul last week for the first International Istanbul Nevruz Celebrations.

Hasanov and Moradi’s often play sold-out concerts around the world. However, because approval for the festival, which was sponsored by the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency and the Kağıthane Municipality, was announced only a few weeks before the event and some debate occurred over the use of a Kurdish word on the show’s poster, there was not efficient promotion for the concerts.

Hasanov and Moradi, who expressed pleasure for coming to Turkey and attending the Nevruz celebrations against all odds, spoke to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review before leaving Turkey. Even though Hasanov, 34, said he wanted to be away from politics, he spoke about the political discussions that sometimes occur between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “We used to live in peace at the time of the Soviet Socialist Republics Union. What happened, happened after it dissolved. All events are political. Azerbaijani people are fed up with these discussions.”

As for the Kurdish problem in Turkey, Moradi said, “War is of no use for anyone.”

Music has nothing to do with people’s fights

Hasanov is a member of a family of musicians and began to play kemancha at the age of 6. Kemancha, which is known as a traditional three-stringed instrument, is played by people in Turkey, the Caucasus and the Middle East.

“Kemancha is the common culture of this geography. It is played by Armenians, Iranians and Uzbeks,” said Hasanov, adding that there are debates over the origin of instruments and music. “I find these debates to be nonsense. The language of music is universal and only expresses friendship and origin. It has nothing to do with discrimination and people’s conflicts.”

Hasanov also spoke about the origin of the folk song “Sarı Gelin” (Yellow Bride), which has caused debate within Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan from time to time. “I performed this anonymous song, too, and never thought of its origin. If a melody penetrates my soul, it is enough for me to perform it.”

Concert with Armenian artists

Hasanov’s biggest dream is to take the stage with the world’s most famous duduk player, Djivan Gasparyan. A duduk is an Armenian double reed woodwind instrument. Gasparyan holds four gold medals from UNESCO due to his contributions to world culture, has made music for 39 Hollywood films and won the World Music Expo, or WOMEX, which is regarded as the biggest prize of the music world, in 2002 for his contributions to music.

Hasanov said he might take the stage not only with Gasparyan, but also with Armenian and Azerbaijani artists to make calls for friendship and peace. “I believe in friendship and peace. I am sure the universal language of music will bring us together on a common ground. If I get an invitation and support for this project, I am always ready.”

Humanity is the most important thing

Moradi, who carefully listened to Hasanov’s explanations, said he agreed with his calls for friendship and peace. When asked what he thought about the Kurdish problem in Turkey, the tambour (a stringed instrument) virtuoso answered, “The most important thing in the world is humanity. Identities and belongings do not make any sense. I long for a borderless, problem- and conflict-free world. I have nothing to do with politics.”

Moradi said he had dedicated his life to music and the friendship of people. “Tambour is my life. It is my first and last friend, and it understands me in this world.”