January 1960. Two friends, Anver Alibeili and Ibrahim Topchibashev, at one of the family activities became parties to an interesting event. Ibrahim Topchibashev sat at the piano and began to play a new tune. Anver Alibeili wasted no time, took a pen and went up to his friend, making some records along the way. Anver Alibeili showed other lines that he had time to write. And Ibrahim Topchibashev continued to play, singing these lines. So the guests sitting at the table then witnessed the birth of a new joint song by Anver Alibeili and Ibrahim Topchibashev. Of course, none of those present could ever imagine how bright the future of this song will be. It is about the history of this song, which is called Soz Olmasaydi (If There Was No Word) and which does not leave a single listener indifferent, we'll talk today.Anver Alibeili was one of the brightest representatives of lyric poetry. He was the author of texts of many musical works that have become the property of our national culture, such as the songs Sevgilim, Zibeyde, Agajda Leylek, Gelmedin, Ilk Mehebbet and others. Anver Alibeili lived in an era which was a golden era for the song and for other forms of art. Then Anver Alibeili was the editor of the newspaper Edebiyyat (Literature). He worked with many famous and talented composers. They say he was always working on songs together with composers, with them building the harmony of words with music. Like his poems, the author was very friendly, sincere and kind person. Anver Alibeili lived hard and busy life. A former military, he participated in the war as an artillery officer and became a hero. However, all these years he lived, not looking up from the paper and pencil, with the love of his family and for his beloved wife Shovket Khanum, who was waiting for him. No wonder the Alibeili family friends always set an example of the love between Anver Alibeili and his wife.Ibrahim Topchibashev and Anver Alibeili were tied with strong friendship. Ibrahim Topchibashev was not just a doctor, but also a close friend for Anver Alibeili. They were very close to each other in spirit. Of course, only in the memory of such a strong friendship could appear a wonderful family created by their children, and the great piece of music, which pleases us to this day. Ibrahim Topchibashev lived only 45 years. But he lived a life of an incredible surgeon - scientist. He wrote 140 scientific papers and 6 monographs, made 4 inventions and did 6,000 operations. He was an honorary member of the Societies of Surgeons of Azerbaijan, Russia , Bulgaria, Macedonia and Turkey. Thanks to his work, Ibrahim Topchibashev maintained relations with scientists from more than forty countries. His monograph on anesthesiology and malignant tumors have become famous throughout the world. These monographs can be found in research centers and central libraries of 25 countries of the world. Ibrahim Topchibashev was one of the most renowned surgeons not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the world. It is worth noting another of his phenomenal quality - oratory. His speech before a crowd wore hypnotic character. His lectures were the most interesting in the medical university. Foreign colleagues were also greatly impressed by his performances. However, those who knew Ibrahim Topchibashev as a surgeon did not even know that he wrote the music for about twenty songs. The words of some songs also belong to his pen . Among the works he wrote there are A Dilber, Karvan, Khezerim, Arab Gizina, Narinj, Baki Haqqinda Mahni, Akhtar Meni, Ne Bekhteveriydik and an unfinished play. Abroad, he had not only a scientific audience, but also a musical one. The surgeon arranged musical soirees abroad. He sat down at the piano and introduced Azerbaijani music to the foreigners. He enjoyed it. In 1958, Ibrahim Topchibashev was admitted to the Union of Composers. He was the only surgeon to use music during operations. Since 1954, all his operations were accompanied by music that appealed to the patient. He believed that music has not only psychological but also physiological effects. Under this statement there was a scientific basis applied. He knew the force of the impact of such works as Terekeme, Yaniq Kerem, mugham music by U. Hajibekov, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. And he used this knowledge in his work.They say Einstein compared atomic structure with a harmonious melody, Pythagoras found a link between numbers and music, the ancient Greeks compared the movement of the planets with music, and medicine has proved phenomenal psychological and physiological effects of music on the human body. Music can affect blood sugar, epinephrine, hormones and enzymes in the blood. These features were known to doctor Ibrahim Topchibashev. He became the first surgeon in Azerbaijan, who used music for therapeutic purposes.The same evening, both authors dedicated this song to their wives. Anver Alibeili dedicated the song to his wife Shovket Khanum and Ibrahim Topchibashev dedicated it to his wife Sughra Khanum. They say Sughra Khanum had a beautiful voice. And the song Soz Olmasaydi was sung that night by Sughra Khanum along with her husband. Before the song was performed professionally, it was sounded more than once at family activities. All the friends learned it by heart. When Ibrahim Topchibashev sat at the piano, all those present intoned the song. Anver Alibeili continued to work on the lyrics and upgraded it.Finally, after some time, the song was performed before a wider audience. In 1960, on March 19 Shovket Alekperova performed it, and then the song Soz Olmasaydi was recorded. This song performed by Shovket Alekperova began transmitting on the radio and television. Shovket Alekperova was a family friend of the Alibeilis. And virtually no family event was ever held without her. It is therefore not surprising that the first performer of the song was precisely this singer. In 1961, the song was recorded on a plate in Paris and sold a million copies. From Paris, these plates were scattered throughout the world, introducing the world to this song.A year later the song got a second performer, who was Gulaga Mammadov, a good friend and colleague of Shovket Alekperova. In 1961 on February 8 Gulaga Mammadov performed, accompanied by an orchestra of folk instruments, which was recorded on phonocylinders.The third performer appeared in 1962; she was a graduate of Special Music School named after Asaf Zeynalli, a student of the singer Seid Shushinsky, a young performer Elmira Aliyeva. Her activities in Azerbaijani art are not too extensive. There are not many records of her performances in the golden archive, but all the songs that she sang are very famous. Elmira Aliyeva was also educated as an English teacher and she no longer sings. However, the records of her singing the song Soz Olmasaydi remain in the golden archive.The performances described above are officially registered in the gold reserves. However, there were informal performances, too. The song was heard from the lips of Flora Karimova, Ilham Guliyev, Nisa Gasimova and many other singers. These performers sang the song from the scene of some events.This song also has contemporary performers. Folk singers and crooners and many others apply to it. Sakina Ismayilova, Kenul Hasiyeva, Almaz Orujova, Nazakat Teymurova, Melekhanum Eyyubova are included in the list of the performers.In 2002, the song was performed by the famous singer Mansum Ibrahimov. He breathed new life into the song and attracted the interest of fans of mugham to it.The next performer of the song was a student of Mansum Ibrahimov, Tayyar Bayramov. Tayyar Bayramov, who became the winner of many festivals in mugham, painted the song in new colors. Thus, at all events, where he is involved, Tayyar Bayramov performs the song Soz Olmasaydi.New performance of this song is associated with the name Abbas Baghirov. The repertoire of Abbas Baghirov includes a lot of fun and dance songs, which are a legacy of our culture. So no one was surprised to hear Soz Olmasaydi performed by Abbas. With this performance the audience of the song distinctly expanded.In 2008, Tarana Mahmudova added the song to her repertoire. Though this song is not peculiar for her repertoire, this performance is remembered and loved by the audience.Ibrahim Topchibashev was a gifted surgeon, who also wrote music as if with his magic scalpel. He gave life to many people. After his death, his mission is continued by his works. His works treat the heart and soul of the Azerbaijani listener. The song Soz Olmasaydi is special. After all, it is an expression of feelings of two friends, Anver Alibeili and Ibrahim Topchibashev. And these feelings are not a bit exaggerated or understated. Foreigners also listening to this song can understand and feel the nature of the Azerbaijani people. This song is native for each of us, because it is sincere. And every listener will find himself in it.Prepared: Alia HagverdiWhen preparing, materials from Azerbaijan Public Television were usedANN.Az