Azerbaijan Street Organ in Old Baku

The first street organ “Old Baku”, inspired by the well known musical works of the prominent Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, was created on the eve of the Novruz Bayram, March 12, 2014 at the direction of the First Secretary of the Azerbaijani Embassy in The Netherlands, PhD Elkhan Alasgarov.<br /><br />Azerbaijani melodies are sounded in the instrument by a mechanical manual method with music books, which consist of buttons. In total some 17 books have been prepared.<br /><br />The uniqueness of the organ is in its design- the background of the Baku fortress, a drawing of the Maiden Tower, and rotating shapes of the characters of Hajibeyov`s operas: Meshadi Ibad, Gochi Askar, Sarvar and Gulchohra. The design was prepared by Alasgarov but created by Dutch experts and artists who have made organ and music books. The lead masters were Tonn and his wife, who are followers of the Flemish school of street organs.