An evening of Rustem Yahin in the National Library of the Republic of Tatarstan

On October 6, 2016 in a café theatre of the National Library of the Republic of Tatarstan (Kremlevskaya street, 33) an evening of Tatar composer, pianist, teacher and the author of the National Anthem of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustem Yahin (1921-1993) was held. Documentaries about R. Yahin’s life and creativity as well as his pieces of music were displayed that day. In the feature film “Rustem Yahin. A sentimental journey” (1993) various honoured art and culture figures shared their recollections about the composer and in the “Melody written by Rustem Yahin” (1981) he is shown as a talented pianist.

Rustem Yahins’ creative heritage remains important in Tatar culture and is included into the gold fund of music in our republic. The presenter of the evening was Guzel Yunusova – a musicologist and senior research fellow in the G.Ibragimov Institute of Language, Literature and Art of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences. She spoke about his biography, main achievements and interesting facts. Being a talented composer, virtuoso pianist and a good person R. Yahin represented an individuality. In the prime of life, he didn’t wish to compose symphonies, operas and oratorios due to which composers are ranged. Rejecting to become the member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union R. Yahin lived off royalty income. He was the first among other Tatar pianists to perform and arrange concerts. He travelled to various cities in Russia and Tatarstan and gave concerts together with Munira Bulatova, Venera Sharipova, Azat Abbasov, Zuleikha Khismatullina, Emil Zalyaletdinov, violinist Marat Akhmetov, Shamil Munasipov. His music was admired by both lowly rural citizen and tempted audience of a big city. His creativity is versatile – he produced more than 450 romances and songs. R. Yahin’s popularity can be proved by the fact that more than 30 contestants used his works for performance in the program of the X Glinka International Vocal Contest in 1981.