AZERBAIJAN • SAKINE ISMAÏLOVA

The mugham, the classical music of Azerbaijan, holds pride of place among the oriental music for its beauty, its power of expression and its extraordinary vitality. Although this music is monodic and modal, each musician, whether singer, lute (târ) or bowed lute (kemânche) player, enjoys a great freedom of interpretation which provides its special depth. The mugham offers, at one and the same time, outstanding diversity and unity: the alternance of compositions and semi-improvisations, of free and regular rhythms, of joyful and sombre moods, is balanced by the smoothness with which all these elements are linked together without interruption.
For several years Sakine Ismailova has been the leading exponent of three or four women singers of Azeri mugham. Her supple, naturally distinguished elegant voice can be either exciting or dramatic, rendering wonderfully well the emotion and poetry of the pieces she performs.

- Mugham Mirza Husayn Segâh
- Mugham Shahnaz
- Zarbi Mugham Karabagh Shikastesi
- Zarbi Mugham Kesme Shikaste
- Zarbi Mugham Semâi Shams