Notes on the collection at hand
The present collection is comprised of a number of pieces from Azerbaijani music that are gathered by Vahid Asadollahi who in turn has played Azerbaijani Naqara in their performance. These pieces are all the fruits of his journey to the US and his cooperation and accompaniment with Rahman Asadollahi.
Apart from three pieces from dance music (Chubanlar Raqsi, Vesal and a piece called Chargah Daramadi), all belong to the form of Mahni. Mahni could be equaled with Tarane, itself different from Tasnif in Azerbaijani music. Here, the latter is more complicated in regard of form and often includes dependent and established pieces as parts of Dastgah, in contrast with Tasnif in the Iranian music that is separate from the body of Radif. But Mahni's, on account of their simple structures, generally resemble simple popular Tarane's. Two kinds of them can be specified in Azerbaijani music: Khalq Mahnisi or popular Mahni belonging to the folklore and Bastekari Mahanisi or the Mahni with a known creator. To name the most famous Mahni composers, we can refer to Tofiq Aliyov, Saeed Rostamov, and Jahangir Jahangirov. Some Bastekari Mahni's are so closed in mood to popular Mahni's that are often assumed as Khalq Mahnisi, e.g. Alaguz by Saeed Rostamov and Ayriliq, one of the most renowned and over-popular Mahni's ever made, by Ali Salimi. ...