Mir Mukhsin Karabahi (1833-1918) entered the history of Azerbaijan culture as a scientist - encyclopedias, who preserved in his traits of à heir Muslim Renaissance. His scalene activity, scientific hypothesis and investigations are reflected in more than twenty writings, dedicated to astronomy, chemistry, history, painting, musicology and etc. His scientific enlighted activity, scalene endowement gained him lifeght time celibrity. He lived à long life in Shusha - the center of Azerbaijan musical culture ø XIX centure, also called the "conservatory of the Caucases". Here he established à library, à reading - hall, tipography, took part in wall-painting of "Big moscue" minarets, collected antology of Karabah poets "Òàrkire Navvab" illustrated books with ornaments and paintings was the founder of Muslim literature society "Meglisi-i Faramushan" where he propoganded dastgah-mugams and creations of modern and medival Azerbaijan poets and new type schools creations.

In the field of musical art Mir Mukhsin Navvab is known as à teacher and the author of one tractate "Vizuh al-argam" (Explanation of numbers), written in 1884 year in traditions of musical science of later Middle Ages. However not long ago new manuscript was founded, which was attached to the list of his writings about music and musical science. It' s kept in Azerbaijan Institute of Manuscripts by number Â/2055. The manuscript was written by Navvab own hand in period, supposedly, from 1880 till 1918 year. Content of the manuscript gives grounds to entitle it as" Guide of European Elementary Theory of Music".

Outward appearance of the manuscript reminds à textbook, consists of two small chapters. The first chapter dedicated to à theme of sound and musical ÀÂÑ - writing. Navvab wrote that sound is the main problem of musicology. Sounds uttered by à human voice, string and wind instruments can be low, high and middle. After long reflections he invented seven notes, which can be sung by the phenomena: pu, ai, ÷å, be, hu, ne, bah. Each of these notes complied to seven diatonic sounds of musical system. For designation of these sounds height Navvab used points and lines. For example, for designation of octave sounds it is necessary to put one point under them, the second octave - two points. In the same style in lower bass register - under the sound of the small octave - one line, under the sound of the big octave - two lines.

In the second chapter he considered problems of sound duration and given equivalents the symbols of sound duration, used in Europeans musical theory.

All these marks of duration must be situated on upper side of note. But there is another way of sound marking. If to strike with à baton four times - it will substitute for à whole note mark. Two strokes will half anote and etc. Also Navvab wrote about simple and complex sounds and simple metro-rhythmical dimensions and suggested his own way to put it down. So European in its essence this theory was transcript by Navvab into "eastern" scientific language and was expressed by literal form of medieval notation "abjad" "and the marks of sound duration which were used by theorists of front and central Asia many centuries ago. The cause of this phenomenon is rooted ø modernization process, started in Azerbaijan in the middle of XIX century, after Azerbaijan was completely split between Russia and Persia in accordance to "Turkmenchay contract" of 1828. The influence of the modernization process, which came to Azerbaijan from Europe through Russia, was felt in all spheres of society. Naturally, that any phenomenon that is born by one culture is adopted by another culture at à different level and through the light of national experience and mentality. "Guides..." of Navvab represents nothing but à case of cultural transformation, connected with direct external influence. This phenomenon can be explained on one hand by the influence of Russian language musical-theoretical literature of didactic type, widely spread in Azerbaijan of that period, and on the other hand by necessity of creation modern European music textbook, which can be understood by native Muslims people.

Comparative analysis of the "Guides..." to the number of Russian language ïøÿñà1 text-books, which were published at the end of XIX-beginning of ÕÕ century (À), shows that "Guides..." by Navvab (Â) is related to them as followed: À - donor, Â - recipient. If we have à look at the adaptation process of this innovation (namely European musical theory in Azeri culture), "Guides..." reflects modification stage with its typical adoption of material to the specific features of national culture. Further research falls into two versions.

FIRST VERSION

"Guide..." by Navvab was written according to "Nazire" method (replay), traditional as for medieval Azerbaijan, as well as all Muslim literature, poetry and science in general. Navvab's "Guides" is à "nazire" for one of above-mentioned Russian language text-books, for example "Basis of musical practical knowledge" by Puzirevski, published in 1903 by "Brokgaus-Efron" society. Two components of this publishing are clearly distinguished - normative and authoritative initiative. The latter became the cause of creation of à new notation k new signs of height and duration of sounds.

SECOND VERSION

Notation of Navvab is à variant of alphabet, created by philosopher-scientist Ì.F.Akhundov (1812-1872) in the first stage of his reform. Each of Navvab note-signs has its letter or sign equivalent in Akhundov's new alphabet and punctuation system which he created for Azerbaijan and Muslims countries: to facilitate the study of Arabic alphabet study through insertion of all vowel letters, traditionally marked by points and lines. Akhundov's idea of introducing easier means of writing perhaps, attracted Navvab's attention and he extrapolated them to the subject of musical theory. It was of great pragmatic importance because of the followed:

In case of an appropriate incorporation of Akhundov's alphabet into the culture of' Azerbaijan and contiguous Muslims countries, new Navvab's notation, being à part of this alphabet, would create tremendous possibilities of organic adoption of European musical theory, as it lets avoid the study of, unknown sings.

Later Akhundov refused from this variant of reformation and created new alphabet, based on Latin graphic and notation of Navvab became property of archives.

So "Guides..." by Navvab - is only à decorative pattern on the carpet of its creation, which in the same time, can be even more than other writings, reflected his enlightenment rushes, and through him - aspiration of foremost Azerbaijan intellectuals of XIX century.