Frans Music Workshop

My memories to Babash

I received a phone call from Babash’s son.
He told me that there were advanced plans to make a documentary about Babash. This would be directed by a renowned filmmaker who has also made documentaries for the NPO (Dutch Public Broadcasting Corporation).
He asked if he could give him my phone number so he could contact me with questions about Babash.
This prompted me to try to piece together my memories of him.

Babash was born and raised in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. He received his education at the music school, as well as primary and secondary school. After completing his music studies at the conservatory, he interned with the Azerbaijan Symphony Orchestra. After completing his military service, he joined the orchestra.
In 1999, he was forced to flee. Due to his traumatic experiences during that period, he didn’t touch his violin for 25 years. Only after he was reunited with his family, granted a residence permit, and found permanent residence in Reek did Maarten Povel lend him one of his violins and persuade him to return to music.
His wife, Flora, a professional pianist, has not played a note since.

Performance of Alexandrine Tinne’s Songs in the Protestant Church of Sint Michielsgestel, November 24, 2013
I wrote six songs for women’s choir and string trio about the life of Alexandrine Tinne, based on texts by Elize Broeren.
In September 2012, I approached Maarten Povel to ask if he would participate in a project to record a series of songs I had composed for two-part women’s choir and string trio. He also asked if he knew a good violinist who might be interested in participating.
He gave me Babash’s phone number, advising me to speak in short sentences, clearly, and avoid difficult words, as Babash’s command of Dutch wasn’t yet very good. At the first rehearsal on October 4th, Babash and Maarten appeared together in the freezing Protestant church and Babash immediately demonstrated his mastery of the violin.

The following year, november 2013, a public performance of the songs took place, again in the Protestant church of Sint Michielsgestel. The songs were commented on by lyricist Elize Broeren, and the performance was introduced by Reverend Marieke den Hartog.

Performances at Brunswijck Nursing Home in Eindhoven
May 8, 2016 – 2018
At the end of April, Maarten Povel approached me to ask if I was interested in performing with Babash. I told him I gave coffee concerts about five times a year at Brunswijck Nursing Home in Eindhoven for €50 each. He said that if we could arrange the logistics, he could perform with me. And that he could keep the €50.

And so it happened that thereafter, every two months on Sunday mornings, we drove to Eindhoven for a performance of two half-hour slots, interrupted by a smoke break, essential for Babash. Sometimes in his car. More often in mine. Because his car was waiting for sufficient funds to be taken to the garage. The fee per performance was increased annually. But Babash insisted on a fair 50/50 split between the two of us.

The Arts and Culture coordinator at the Brunswijck nursing home held the same position at Residence Imstenrade in Heerlen. And that’s how we came to perform in Heerlen

Performance at Imstenrade Heerlen 6-11-2016
Memories of his first years in the Netherlands
During the car ride to Heerlen, Babash talked about his first years in the Netherlands. He had bad memories of his stay in the asylum seekers’ center in Heerlen. He had fled Azerbeidjan, leaving his wife and children behind. He found the reception in Heerlen very impersonal. With nothing to do, he was terribly bored. At the same time, his attempts to bring his family over were bogged down in bureaucracy. When he finally succeeded in bringing them to the Netherlands, his wife and children were housed in another asylumcenter and they were not allowed to see each other. In desperation, he slit his wrists. Fortunately, it wasn’t fatal. But it did lead to him, his wife, and children being reunited at the asylum center in Grave.
Their treatment there was much more humane. And the mayor of Grave personally arranged for them to be assigned a house in Reek.
Unfortunately, the misery didn’t end there. His eldest son died in a car accident just before they were about to move into their new home.

The performance in Imstenrade, by the way, went perfectly. A beautiful venue, a superb grand piano, and an attentive audience. One of the ladies present made a video recording and later put it on DVD for us.

KiKa Concert February 25, 2018:

From wild plans to successful execution.

When Babash first announced his plans, they were grand and compelling.
He wanted to try to persuade the Regional Symphony Orchestra, or RSO for short, of which he had been concertmaster for several years, to give a concert featuring music from Azerbaijan. The only problem was that the RSO was on the verge of disbanding. And as time went on, the dream grew ever more beautiful and grander. Azebaijani musicians and dancers had to be added. The local ballet school had to contribute. He wanted to take conducting lessons so he could conduct the concert himself. And in the meantime, he tried various ways to find sponsors for his project.

Article in Brabants Dagblad Oss region February 8, 2018
How did the Regional Symphony Orchestra Oss come up with the idea of ​​filling half a concert with music from Azerbaijan? It’s more obvious than it seems. One of the symphony orchestra’s violinists is concertmaster Babash Azeri. He settled in the Netherlands at the beginning of this century and has been a member of the Oss Symphony Orchestra for about six years now. “I wanted to do something good for children. Then I thought about Kika,” says Azeri, who now lives in Reek. His roots are still audible. “I also wanted to introduce the music of my homeland, Azerbaijan, to Oss. So I asked if some pieces could be included.” They were allowed to, although it’s taking some getting used to for the orchestra.

Respected conductor Jacco Nefs also occasionally has to look at Azeri to see how things were. Much freer. “The rhythm, the timbre, it’s all different. Everything is much freer.” “We really have to work hard to coordinate everything properly with the soloists,” says treasurer Marina Visser, who is also playing. Next to her, cellist and secretary Annelies van der Sanden nods in agreement.

“The soloists are also from Azerbaijan.” Or actually, from Germany, Azeri corrects. “And five dancers from Nart Dance Köln are also coming. They’ll be dancing to our music.” There will also be a real tar player. Vahid Tarzen will add color to the national melodies so dear to concertmaster Azeri on his tar. But that only covers half of the concert. Before the intermission, the performance will mainly feature European classics.

The talented 14-year-old cellist Emma van Schadewijk will also come to De Lievekamp theater to perform a solo in the concert. The Dimphy ballet school will provide the first part of the show with dance. First benefit concert In the 34 years of the Regional Symphony Orchestra’s existence, it has never given a benefit concert. “We hope to donate all ticket sales to the Children Cancer Free Foundation (Kika), but unfortunately, we’re not there yet. Sponsorship already covers a large portion, but we still need a few thousand euros to donate all ticket sales to the charity,” admits treasurer Visser. There will be a rehearsal on Friday evening at Den Bongerd school to finalize the details. Then it’s happening on Sunday, February 25th. The concert starts at 3:00 PM. Tickets are still available.

A Violin Concerto for Babash
In late 2017 and early 2018, I conceived the plan to compose a piece for violin and orchestra for Babash. It ultimately became four: Emotions, Taste of Home, Uhtah, and Wild Dance.
They depict Babash’s changing moods: sad yet happy when he spoke about his country, Azerbaijan (you should go on vacation there with me…), but also his exuberant mood when he talked about the music and dance of that country.
Although he was already quite ill at the time, he insisted on rehearsing the pieces and that I tried to accompany him on the electric piano. But sometimes he had to admit that his energy suddenly drained.

Illness and Death
Stomach pains, which weren’t taken seriously until it was too late.
Babash didn’t like to complain. He had been suffering from stomach pain regularly for a long time. But his doctor gave him the cold shoulder. Just take a paracetamol. It’ll pass. Until, at the urging of acquaintances, he was referred to a specialist for a bowel scan. It turned out that a large tumor had settled in his abdomen. Unfortunately, the tumor had already progressed so far that it was unstoppable. Yet, unexpectedly, on November 28th, the sad news arrived that he had passed away the day before.

Wednesday, November 28th
Dear friends,
Perhaps you’ve already heard, but now it’s official.
Yesterday, November 27th, our dear music friend Babash passed away after a long battle with colon cancer.