Baku:Francesco Maggio, an Italian composer and cultural figure, has been actively promoting Azerbaijani music, particularly mugham, and national musical motifs in Europe. Maggio, whose works are deeply inspired by Azerbaijani culture, has performed in Baku multiple times and organized joint events with Azerbaijani and Italian musicians, including in Germany.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Maggio’s first encounter with Azerbaijani music occurred over a decade ago during a work trip to Azerbaijan. This experience significantly influenced his musical research and philosophical understanding of art. He credits the Mirzayev family, particularly composer Gunay Mirzayeva, for introducing him to traditional mugham performers, an encounter that broadened his ethnomusicological work.
Maggio describes mugham as a fascinating discovery due to its modal system, microtonal intervals, improvisation, and complex vocal expression. He regards its spiritual essence as its most impressive attribute, viewing it as a form of meditation and dialogue between humanity and infinity. Mugham, for Maggio, is a musical tradition that preserves a deep mystery beyond musical analysis.
Maggio draws parallels between mugham and other musical traditions, including Gregorian chant and the music of his native region, Salento, in Italy. He notes similarities in modal thinking, contemplative nature, and the oral transmission of music, highlighting the shared human need to express the inexpressible through sound. Maggio considers mugham an extraordinary gift to Azerbaijani culture, preserved over centuries.