Welcome to Baku - Azerbaijan and to the 148th edition of the Forum Song Contest (FSC).
Theme: ‘Azerbaijan: A Nation of Art and Traditions’
Winner FSC May 2021
Congratulations! ^^
The Host city for this FSC #148-edition is : Baku - Azerbaijan, the capital and largest city of Azer
baijan , as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea & of the Caucasus region . Baku is located
28 metres (92 ft) below sea level , which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world &
also the largest city in the world located below sea level . The city is situated by the Bay of Baku.
At the beginning of 2009, Baku's urban population was estimated at just over two million people.
Officially, about 25% of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area. Baku is the
sole metropolis in Azerbaijan , & is famous for its urban nightlife ranked high on world lists . The
city is furthermore the scientific, cultural, and financial/industrial centre of the Azerbaijani nation
Many sizeable Azerbaijani institutions have their headquarters there. The Baku International Sea
Trade Port is capable of handling two million tonnes of general and dry bulk cargoes per year. In
recent years , Baku has become an important venue for international events incl. ESC 2012 & the
2015 'European Games' , and the city also hosted the final of: the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.
Historically, aound 100.000 years ago , savanna rich in flora and fauna covered the territory of pre
sent-day Baku & Absheron district. Traces of human settlement go back to the Stone Age. Bronze
Age rock carvings have been discovered near Bayil , and a bronze figure of a small fish in the terri
tory of the Old City . This led to suggestions of a Bronze Age settlement , within the city's territory
In a part of modern day Baku a place called Umid Gaya features a prehistoric observatory with im
ages of the sun & of various constellations carved into rock , together with a primitive astronomic
table. Further archeological excavations has revealed various prehistoric settlements , native tem
ples, statues and other artifacts within the territory of the modern-day city of Baku , and around it
Baku was the realm of the Shirvanshahs during the 8th century AD. The city frequently came und
-er assault from the Khazars and later from the Rus' . Shirvanshah Akhsitan I built a navy in Baku
& successfully repelled, a Rus' assault in 1170 . After a devastating earthquake struck Shamakhi,
the capital of Shirvan, Shirvanshah's court moved to Baku 1191. The Shirvan era influenced much
Between the 12th and 14th centuries , massive fortifications were built in Baku & the surrounding
towns. The citywalls of Baku were also rebuilt and strengthened. By the early 16th century Baku's
wealth and strategic position attracted the attention of its larger neighbours. In the centuries ther
eafter Baku was under foreign rule incl. the Iran-centred Kara Koyunlu Monarchy , & the Ottomans
In the mid1800s they began to drill for oil in Baku and the city became a huge oil-producer. By the
start of the 20th century 1/2 of the oil sold internationally was extracted in Baku. The oil boom co
ntributed to its massive growth. The 2 World Wars affected the city heavily. After a long period as
part of the USSR Azerbaijan gained its independence & began a process of massive restructuring
Baku is in some ways a city of the past and of the future. Taza Pir Mosque (cfr Teze Pir) is a mos
que in the city. Construction began 1905, ended 1914. The history of the sanctuary dates back to
the XIV & XV centuries . It existed first time as a tomb . The location of the sanctuary was known
as “Xalfadam” until middle of last century. Over time the tomb was often exposed to destruction.
‘Azerbaijan: A Nation of Art and Traditions’
‘Traditional Carpet Weaving and Azerbaijani Mugham’
Azerbaijan is a Nation of Art and Traditions . The Carpet Weaving Art for example has long trad
itions in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani carpet is a traditional handmade textile of various sizes w/
dense texture & a pile or pile-less surface whose patterns are characteristic of Azerbaijan’s diff
carpet-making regions. Carpet making is a family tradition transferred orally & through practice.
Men shear sheep in spring & autumn , while women collect dyestuffs , and spin & dye yarn in the
spring, summer & autumn . The weaving is undertaken during winter, by the female members of
the extended family , girls learning from their mothers & grandmothers and wives assisting their
mothers-in-law. The carpet's made on horizontal / vertical looms using multi-coloured wool , cot
ton or silk yarn coloured with natural dyes. Applying spec. techniques to create pilecarpets, wea
vers knot the pileyarn around threads of the warp; pileless carpets're variously made with interla
cing structural warps, wefts & patterning wefts . The cutting of a finished carpet from the loom's
an unusually solemn celebration. Carpet weaving is closely connected with the daily life & custo
ms of the Azerbaijani communities involved , its role reflected in the meaning of designs , & their
applications. Thus girls seated on carpets tell fortunes & sing traditional songs at Novruz (the re
gional New Year). The carpet's widely used for home furniture and decoration , & special carpets
are woven for medical treatment, for weddingceremonies, child's birth, mourning rituals & prayer
Baku hosts a famous Carpet Museum which houses about 6000 carpets all designed and woven
by Azerbaijanis , a complex fusion of patterns, colours, symbols & motifs encountered on rugs of
various shapes & sizes, techniques and place of origin, all to be admired by locals & visitors alike
Another important element of Azerbaijani culture is a traditional Art of Azerbaijani Mugham, the
famous folk musical compositions from Azerbaijan. It was announced by UNESCO as a "Master
piece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" and was added to the UNESCO Intangible
Cultural Heritage Lists in 2008 . It is a highly complex art form that weds classical poetry & mus
ical improvisation in spes. local modes. Mugham is a modal system. Unlike Western modes mu
gham modes are associated not only with scales , but with orally transmitted collection of melo
dies & melodic fragments , that performers (singers & artists) use in the course of improvisation
Mugham is a compound composition of many parts . The choice of a particular mugham & style
of performance fits a specific event. A dramatic unfolding in performance is typically associated
with increasing intensity and rising pitches , & a form of poetic-musical communication between
performers & initiated listeners . A short selection of Azerbaijani Mugham played on the Azerbaij
ani wind instrument Balaban , was included among the cultural achievements of humanity on the
Voyager Golden Record, which was attached to the Voyager spacecraft to represent world music
Azerbaijan is known today as multinational and multi-confessional with cultural diversity. Azerba
ijan is a secular state and ensures religious freedom . Baku's also 1 of the most important tourist
destinations in the Caucasus, and has many popular tourist and entertainment spots . It also has
an abundance of museums, monuments, theatres, hotels, shops, nightlife & all modern amenities
The largest museum in Baku , the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan lies inside an Italian
Renaissance-style mansion and boasts more than 300,000 artefacts . The museum’s ex.hibits sp
an ancient to modern history and ethnography, with one of its most notable ex.hibitions being its
extensive numismatic (relating to coins & money) collection, which includes Ancient Greek coins.
Dating back to the 12th century , this cylindrical tower has a mysterious story . Historians believe
that the UNESCO-listed Maiden Tower served as Zoroastrian temple (Zoroastrianism is a religion
based on teachings of Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster) before becoming watch tower in 18th
century. Follow a spiral staircase to the top of the 29-metre structure , for views of Ischeri Sheher
The pedestrianised Fountain Square, formerly known as Parapet , is a bustling public destination.
Dozens of fountains fill the area which stretches from Nizami Street to the eastern walls of Icheri
Scherer. Bars , cafés and restaurants with outdoor terraces fill the lower floors of the surrounding
buildings. The tree-lined plaza gets its name from many fountains located throughout the square.
Towards the end of pedestrianised Nizami Street, close to Icheri Sheher, stands the Nizami Muse
um of Azerbaijan Literature . Named after 12th -century poet Nizami Ganjavi , the building holds a
wealth of materials about Azerbaijani literature & culture. The buildings facade features 6 statues
of famous poets and writers. The museum's considered a national treasure of Azerbaijani culture
Other city sights: Baku’s Old City , Nizami Street, Government House, National Flag Square , ‘Mini-
Venice ’, Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center , Ismailiyya Palace , and. State Academic Opera and Ballet
Theatre. Baku is a city of music ( incl. Azerbaijani jazz and the Baku International Jazz festival ) &
also has a thriving International Centre of Mugham. It is also a city of many sports (incl. football).
Above all , Baku’s trio of skyscrapers - the Flame Towers - are the most recognisable sight on the
city’s skyline . At night , their glass facades light up in colours of fire , an effect created by 10.000
coloured LEDbulbs. Perched majestically above the Bay of Baku 2 towers are occupied by offices
& apartments , while the 3rd - Fairmont Baku - is open to non-guests, who can enjoy a drink there.
The Host venue for FSC #148 June 2021 is: the Elektra Events Hall in Baku , Azerbaijan . It
is a professional venue / arena in the city , for live music events of various genres , & also a great
place for celebrations, corporate events, conventions , conferences & ex.hibitions . It is the bigge
st concert venue in the region that is compliant with international standards, and it has excellent
technical characteristics & unique acoustic properties .The main hall , has room for 2500 people.
They can accommodate, a maximum of 600 theatre style & 250 dining, in various banqueting the
mes. VIP rooms on the 2nd floor can accommodate up to 200 guests. Many wellknown artists in
different music genres (among them classical music, blues , jazz, folk, pop & rock) have held con
certs in the venue including INNA , Ace of Bace , Akcent , maNga , Robin Schulz, Richard Gallanio
& Timati to name a few . They are proud to host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest
Our lovely Hosts this evening are:
Emin Agalarov , Husniya Maharramova and Tural Asadov
Emin Agalarov is a very popular Azerbaijani-Russian singer and businessman. On 26th May 2012
Emin was the local interval act during intermission on the Eurovision Song Contest that was held
in , the Baku Crystal Hall. He is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest
Husniya Maharramova is one of the top lifestyle influencers in Azerbaijan She has been a regular
commentator during Eurovision broadcasts for many years She has also co-hosted events of diff
erent kinds for tv/media She is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest
Tural Asadov is an Azerbaijani actor , television presenter , voice-over artist, & film producer from
Baku. In 2015 he hosted "The Voice of Azerbaijan". In 2019, he hosted a 15th anniversary concert
of Heydar A. Foundation. He is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest
And we are now pleased to announce
The Opening Acts
Exclusive International Guest Appearances
Erika Vikman (Finland)
ET (Croatia)
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’Syntisten pöytä’
’Tek Je 12 Sati’