Alikhan Samedov: "Balaban is the heritage of the whole world"

His music can be heard on television shows, documentary and feature films. Born in Azerbaijan, master performances on the national wind musical instrument – the balaban, Alikhan Samedov has achieved recognition far beyond the borders of his homeland. Currently living in Turkey, the famous musician spoke about his art and the worldwide love of the balaban in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

- How did you become a world-famous musician?

- I was born in Sumgait. From childhood I was interested in music. Even my neighbors and friends knew that I would be a musician. As a child, if one of my friends got a musical instrument, he brought it to me. Sometimes I played an instrument that I have never seen in my life before. Everyone wondered how I could do it. At the time, I thought that anyone can learn it. Only later did I realize that it was a gift that is not given to everyone.

That is how our house got a naqara, a garmon, a balaban, etc. In order to learn how to play all the instruments, I often refused to go out to the yard with my friends. Already from that time, musical instruments became my constant toys. To this day I can perform melodies on 18 musical instruments.

Then fate brought me to Turkey. For 25 years I have been trying to popularize the balaban worldwide. I released eight CDs with authorial music, a book 'Method of the Balaban', works performed by me were part of music albums in different countries, and authorial music sounded in documentaries and feature films.

- Which nation does the balaban belong to?

- I wrote about this in my book "Method of the Balaban". The balaban was named differently in different parts of the planet. In Azerbaijan and Dagestan – balaban, in China – gyuanzi, in Armenia – duduk, in Georgia – duduki, in Turkey – balaban or mei, in Japan – hichiriki, in Korea – hyanpiri, in Uzbekistan – bulamon. This instrument is very prevalent among the Caucasian peoples, and in other post-Soviet republics. I believe that the balaban is an instrument which is the heritage of the whole world. Believe me, people play it all over the world, and there are many people who are willing to learn how to play it.

- The Azerbaijani melody 'Sen gelmez oldun' in your performance on the balaban has enjoyed success in Russia. It can often be heard on television and in the movies. How can explain such a love for this song?

- Russia has always valued high art, and everyone is trying to add beautiful melodies like 'Sen gelmez oldun' into their repertoire. There is no man who would not be fascinated by this melody. Beautiful music knows no borders, it is being listened everywhere, and Russia is no exception. This melody is so loved, that some people try to appropriate my performance for themselves in many Russian cities, and often, by changing a few notes, distribute it on the internet as their own authorial work.

- Do you plan to give a concert in Moscow?

- In most European countries, I performed with concert programs, I met with my fans in Japan and Singapore. Several organizers appealed to me with a request to give a concert in Moscow. But I did not like their proposals, so we could not agree. Now there are negotiations, and there is a chance that I will give a concert in Moscow in November or December.

In Russia, Alikhan Samedov became famous for a performance of famous Azerbaijani song 'Sen gelmez oldun' ('You did not come') on the balaban. The song, written during Soviet times by Azerbaijani amateur composer Alakbar Tagiyev to the words of the poet Medina Gulgun, were performed not only in Azerbaijan but also in many post-Soviet countries, as well as in Turkey. On the balaban, this song sounds very melodiously. Alena Babenko and Roman Kostomarov performed to this music, played by Alikhan Samedov, in the 'Ice Age' show. The melody is also heard in the song of Sogdiana 'Remember Me' and in the song of Bianca 'Treason'. In 2012 the Russian singer Sati Casanova included the song in her repertoire, performing it in the Azerbaijani language.