Uzeyir Hajibeyov composed the vocal music for his second romance-ghazal “Sevgili Janan” (“Beloved”), in 1943, setting it to the verses of Nizami Ganjavi. This work was created in commemoration of Nizami’s 800th anniversary. The ghazal was translated into Azerbaijani by Mirvarid Dilbazi.

The ghazal is a lyric poetic form that has flourished for centuries across Near Eastern literary traditions, particularly among Azerbaijani, Persian, Arabic, Turkic, Uzbek, Tajik and other related cultures. Characterized by its compact structure and themes of mystical and earthly love, this genre holds a prominent position in both classical Azerbaijani literature and musical heritage.

The musical-poetic connections in “Sevgili Janan” reflect the intrinsic relationship between the ghazal genre’s arūż meter (specifically the hazaj pattern) and its musical setting. The poetic text’s content and imagery revolve around themes of love—the lover’s supplication to the beloved and the overwhelming emotions that envelop them. 

Uzeyir Hajibeyli creatively drew upon the tradition of unifying literary and musical forms, particularly the ghazal’s organic connection with music. In one of his articles, the composer himself wrote about the musical ghazal: “The ghazal, being one of the principal forms of Eastern poetry, must carry lyrical content. Ghazals have become extremely widespread in Azerbaijani poetry. Often, ghazal texts serve as the basis for vocal improvisations within Azerbaijani maqam traditions. In preparation for the 800th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, Azerbaijani composers set music to his famous ghazals. Thus, for the first time in Azerbaijan, a new form of musical ghazal emerged - no longer in an improvised style, but as developed melodies composed in appropriate modes and approaching the genre of European art songs”.

“Sevgili Janan” constitutes a lover’s lyrical address to the beloved. The composer articulates this supplicatory emotional state and its distinctive vocal inflection through subtle melodic turns. In these vocal miniatures, Uzeyir Hajibeyov demonstrates exceptional sensitivity to the unification of poetic and musical intonation. The author’s supreme artistry manifests in his masterful transformation of speech patterns and rhetorical cadence into musical language in “Sevgili Janan”, achieving an elevated synthesis of verbal and melodic expression.

The inaugural performer of the ghazal-romance “Sevgili Janan” was the eminent vocalist and pedagogue, People’s Artist of the USSR, Professor Bulbul. Subsequently, this romance was interpreted with distinctive lyricism by our great artists Rashid Behbudov, Muslim Magomayev, and Alim Gasimov. The work was first published in Baku in 1944. The romance is performed with accompaniment by symphony orchestras, folk instrument ensembles, and pop orchestras.

O Beloved Janan, whose beauty’s verses shine divine,

All creation bows before grace so rightfully thine.

Bestow thy kindness, grant one kiss from lips so fair -

For a lover, the belle’s kiss is mercy most rare.

“Where rests the heart?” I asked, and learned this reply:

“Seek not - though mortals try, it shall ne'er be nigh”.

“Show mercy!” I pled, shedding tears like floodtide’s flow,

O fate’s coquette, toy not with my lifeblood’s glow.

If justice dwells in thee, answer, Nizami:

How should one conduct oneself with moonbright majesty?