TEHRAN -- Azerbaijani kamancheh virtuoso Habil Aliyev died in Baku on Tuesday at the age of 89, the Azerbaijan Press Agency reported.

He was suffering from a respiratory problem.

He began to learn music from the famous mugham teacher Ahmed Agdam in 1934 when he was at the age of seven.

Aliyev later performed concerts in the UK, Tunisia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Syria, the United States, Turkey, Germany, India, France, Iran, Pakistan, Japan, Greece and Italy.

He also collaborated with Iranian musicians in some concerts.

Some prominent Iranian musicians, including vocalists Mohammadreza Shajarian, Hamayun Shajarian and tar virtuoso Tahmures Purnazeri offered messages of condolences.

“The death of the great man of the Azerbaijani music, master Habil Aliyev, is a great loss to the Azerbaijani people and art enthusiasts,” Mohammadreza Shajarian said in a message published in the Persian service of ILNA on Thursday.

“I sadly offer my condolences to his family, fans and the people of Azerbaijan,” he added.

Aliyev and Shajarian performed together during a concert at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall in 1992.

Shajarian’s son, Humyuan, also sent a message of condolence.

“The great legendry master Habil Aliyev performed in his own unique style and then departed,” he wrote.

“He was one of the few musicians who become eternal with his instrument… Thank God that I met him,” he added.

“Like his instrument’s soul, he flew up to the heavens,” Purnazeri wrote in a note published by the Persian service of MNA on Thursday.

“He remained a worshiper of love on the altar of music,” he added.

Azerbaijanis bid Aliyev a tearful farewell during his funeral at the Alley of Honor, a public cemetery and memorial in Baku where many renowned Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan-affiliated expatriates, including several presidents, scientists and artists, are buried.

Photo: Azerbaijani kamancheh virtuoso Habil Aliyev in an undated photo

MMS/YAW
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