BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Tofig Bakikhanov has died at the age of 96.

Tofig Bakikhanov was born on December 8, 1930, into the family of renowned tar player and People’s Artist Ahmad Bakikhanov. He received his first musical education at the ten-year music school (now the Bulbul Secondary Specialized Music School) affiliated with the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Azerbaijan State Conservatory (Baku Music Academy). In 1990, he was awarded the title of People’s Artist.

For his contributions to the development of Azerbaijan’s musical culture, he was awarded the Shohrat (Glory), Sharaf (Honor), and Labor orders, including the Order of Labor, 1st Class.

For more than half a century, Tofig Bakikhanov taught at the Baku Music Academy.

He was the author of three ballets, three musical comedies, 25 concertos, 20 sonatas, five symphonic mughams, eight symphonies, six symphonic poems, numerous chamber works, as well as more than 100 songs and romances.