ALYABIEV Aleksandr Aleksandrovich

ALYABIEV Aleksandr Aleksandrovich (15.8.1787–6.3.1851), Russian composer. Participant of the Patriotic War of 1812. A. laid the foundation of Russian musical Orientalism, created a number of works using elements of the musical folklore of the peoples of the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Southern Urals. While in exile in Orenburg (1833–35), he recorded songs of Bashkirs and Tatars, the handwritten versions of which are stored in M.I. Glinka Museum of Musical Culture; A. created the “Bashkir Overture” for a symphony orchestra, the vocal set “Asian Songs” based on Bashkir tunes. Bashkir folk melodies formed the basis of Saltanat’s aria in A.’s opera “Ammalat­Bek”. The author of the first musical notes of Bashkir folk melodies, including, presumably, songs about Salavat Yulayev (collection “Tatar songs”, not published).