P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Nasriddinov, Husayn

Tajik composer Husayn Nasriddinov was born into a family of

musicians in Hissar on December 10, 1929. He received his education

in music from his father, Nasriddin Ghafurov (a famous singer from

Hissar) and his early general education at the Orjonikidzeobod

Pedagogical School (1949-53).

Nasriddinov career was launched when he participated in a general

music competition in Dushanbe in 1952, where he garnered high marks.

He also was a participant at the 40

th

 Anniversary of the Republic of

Tajikistan, held at the Kremlin in 1964. Nasriddinov made many trips to

the other Soviet republics with the purpose of promoting Tajik music.

Had he not become a musician, Nasriddinov would have made a

fantastic teacher. He graduated from the Dushanbe Pedagogical Institute

in 1971. His repertoire holds more than 500 songs, mostly classical and

popular songs. He has put the works of some 40 Tajik poets, including

those by Nozim, Shavkat, Saido, and Vasli into music. In addition, he

created musicals from a number of famous Tajik stories including the

Qumrinoma (Book of the Ringdove) of Jalal al-Din Rumi, Nasihatnoma

(Book of Advice) of Nasir Khosrow, and stories from Sa'di's Guliston

(Rose Garden).

Nazriev is a versatile poet and musician. Both the themes of his

songs and the venues in which they are created vary in content and in

genre. He became a People's Singer of Tajikistan in 1963, and received

the Honorary Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of

Tajikistan.