In 1919, during the formation of the
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the new government announced it was accepting submissions from the public for a national anthem, coat of arms and state seal. A prize of 15,000 rubles would be awarded to the citizen who submitted the winning anthem. Azerbaijani composer
Uzeyir Hajibeyov wrote two marches. In 1919, this work received the first award announced by the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The second march was the "March of Azerbaijan." According to Turkish musicologist Etem Üngör, "In those years, when Azerbaijan had not yet lost its independence, the march was chanted by military schools before lessons." In 1922 the Azerbaijan SSR adopted the Soviet communist anthem "
The Internationale". In 1944, during World War II, the new
Soviet national anthem replaced "The Internationale" and an additional
anthem of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic was installed. In 1989, following several years of changes brought by
perestroika, composer Aydin Azimov arranged a modern recording of the anthem by a full symphony and chorus. That fall, "" was broadcast on television and radios in Azerbaijan, 70 years after it was introduced.
Post-Soviet restoration After the
dissolution of the Soviet Union, in spring 1992, the leaders of the independent Azerbaijani government proposed that the original anthem should be restored as the anthem of Azerbaijan. The
Milli Mejlis (National Assembly) signed it into law on 27 May 1992. ==Lyrics==