Ali-Sade, Frangis

Ali-Sade, Frangis, Azerbaijani composer; b. Baku, May 28, 1947. She studied piano in Baku as a child. Later she studied composition with Kara Karayev at the state cons. in Baku (1965–72), conducted postgraduate work there (1974–76), and was an assistant to Karayev (1970–76). Since 1976 she has taught composition at the Azerbaijan State Cons., and from 1979 to 1985 she was secretary of the Azerbaijan Composers’ Union. She was a co-composer-in-residence (with Kancheli) for the 1999 Lucerne International Festival of Music. Her music involves a personal, sui generis method of organization that combines the timbres and melodies of indigenous Azerbaijan music with the more advanced techniques of Western music.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: A Legend of the White Horseman, after a Turkish epic tale (1983–85). ORCH.: Piano Concerto (1972); Sym. (1976); Concerto for Chamber Orch. (1986); Silk Road, concerto for Percussion and Chamber Orch. (1999–2000). CHAMBER: 4 string quartets: No. 1 (1974), No. 1, Dilogie I (1988), No. 3, Mugam-Sajahy, with percussion and synthesized sound (1993), and No. 4, Oasis (1998); Zu den Kindertotenliedern, in memory of Mahler, for Clarinet, Violin, and Percussion (1977); Habil- Sajahy for Cello and Prepared Piano (1979); Dilogie II for 9 Players (1989; rev. 1994); Crossing I for Clarinet and Vibraphone/Celesta (1991) and II for 11 Instruments (1992–93); Mirage for Ud and Chamber Ensemble (1998); Sturm und Drang for Chamber Ensemble (1998); Ask Havasi for Cello (1998). KEYBOARD: Piano:2 sonatas: No. 1, In memory of Alban Berg (1969–70) and No. 2 (1990); Music (1987; rev. 1997). Organ: Fantasy (1982); Partita (1985). vocal: Songs About Motherland, oratorio (1978); Three Watercolors for Soprano, Flute, and Prepared Piano (1987); From Japanese Poetry for Soprano, Flute, and Prepared Piano (1990).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire