The Azerbaijan National Conservatory organized a presentation ceremony for the book “Ali Dede peak of Azerbaijani music”, written by musicologist and scholar Tahira Karimova. The book is dedicated to Ali Zulfuqar oglu Karimov (also known as Kalvali Ali Dede), one of the prominent figures of Azerbaijani folk art, a master performer of wind instruments such as the trumpets, balaban, pipe and the composer of over 70 dance melodies. Director of the Institute of Folklore of ANAS, Associate Professor Hikmat Guliyev spoke about the scientific, cultural and symbolic significance of the book.

During his speech, Hikmat Guliyev first spoke about the unity of music and folklore, and their interconnection. According to him, trying to separate ashiq art and creativity from the ashiq tradition, the master-apprentice relationship, ceremonial folklore, lullabies, laments, quatrains and others from their melodies, rhythm and intonation would be, in the words of American folklorist Alan Dundes, like separating the “folk” from the “lore” - that is, separating the people from knowledge and knowledge from the people. Therefore, folk songs, folk dances, folk medicine and folk architecture are also subjects of folklore studies.

The scientist noted that the topic to which the book presented was dedicated attracts the attention and interest not only of musicologists but also of folklorists.

He mentioned that Kalvali Ali Dede was not only a virtuoso performer but also one of the archetypes of Azerbaijani music living in the layers of mythical memory. In his performance, the tune and pipe are not merely melodic instruments, they were acoustic symbols that carry the emotional rhythm, aesthetic perception and ceremonial memory of the people.