Said Rustamov

Said Rustamov (Mirjabbar Seyidrustamzadeh) was born in Irevan. His family was forced to flee to Turkey in 1918 due to ethnic conflict. In 1919, they moved to Ganja, and from there to Baku.

He studied at the Baku Music School (1924-1926, taking lessons in tar from Uzeyir Hajibeyov and M. Mansurov) and the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute (1932).

In 1926, he was appointed a teacher at secondary school No. 19. Since 1928, he has been teaching tar at the Baku Music School and the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. He is the author of the first “Tar School” textbook (1935), “Etudes for Tar” (1950), a concert for an orchestra of folk instruments with tar, and cantatas. He is one of the main compilers of the “Nota Savadı” textbook for music schools. He worked as the artistic director and chief conductor of the Azerbaijan Folk Instrument Orchestra (1935–1975), the head of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Fioletov Club, and the Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble (1971). He was the chairman of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union (1949–1953). He wrote music for about 20 performances. The song "Intizar" he wrote for his first performance later began a separate life. The number of his songs is more than 100. In 1951, the songs "Sumgayit", "Komsomol", "I Vote for Peace" were awarded the State Prize. The fantasy based on the mugham "Bayatı Kurd", the plays "Jangi" and "Gahramani" were written specifically for the folk instrument orchestra. He is the author of the musical comedies "Beş manatlıq gelın", "Durna", "Raisin arvadı".

Professor (1973), Stalin Prize laureate (1951), Honored Art Worker, People's Artist (1957) Said Rustamov died in 1983 and was buried in the Alley of Honor.

Composer Said Rustamov is the father of composer Eldar Rustamov and musician, actress Tamilla Rustamova.