Bahram Mansurov

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Bahram Mansurov was born in 1911 in Baku, into a prosperous family. His father, Meshadi Suleyman bey Mansurov, was known as a philanthropist and great connoisseur of mugham and was a virtuoso on the tar. He often held musical gatherings, majlises, in his house in the old city. Bahram finished school in 1925 and in 1929 was invited to join an orchestra as a tar player. He became a Soviet and Azerbaijani tar player, the lute with two bodies and metal strings that is the most important instrument of mugham in Azerbaijan.

Music and breakthrough

During the war he performed for soldiers and the wounded, and in 1944 he toured several cities in Iran. After the war he received honours. In 1971 and 1975 two records appeared under the auspices of UNESCO, and he took part in international symposia and concerts in Europe. In 1978 he became People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR. He donated archive material from the family to museums and archives in the Soviet Union, which is important for the music history of Azerbaijan. Albums by him are Azerbaijani Mugam from 1975 and a record from 1974. He died in 1985 in Baku.

Influence

Mansurov helped make mugham, the classical music of Azerbaijan, known outside the country. His playing is an example of the tradition, in which a soloist on the tar builds a long piece on a single mode.

Listening

• 
  Mugam Chahargah · Bahram Mansurov, 2015

Discography

Studio albums

• 1974Играет Бахрам Мансуров
• 1975Azerbaijani Mugam

See also

• Azerbaijani mugham