Persian Classical Music - Its roots and its future

"Original and Traditional Iranian Music - Origin of Iranian Music"

By Ali Fatemi, D.D.S.

Click here for live samples

Click here to go to his website.

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Persian classical music is played through out Iran, but it is mostly centered in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.   The masters of Persian Classical Music are considered by many to hold the secrets this music.  Among them are masters like Mr. Payvar, Jalil shahnaz, Kasaii, shajarian and many, many more.  It is noteworthy to mention that many of the masters are anonymous and they prefer to keep it that way.  Click here for live samples.

Music in Iran has been a taboo and it still remains that way.  The pursuit of music is not only difficult in finding a master who is willing and able, but it is too difficult in its inability to provide a steady source of income.  Therefore, being a professional musician does not have the same benefits and stature that we see in western world.  It should be noted that in recent years there has been a surge in interest among young people in learning music and this has provided a better source of income for masters of this music.  However, much remains to be done to make this profession a well respected and sought after one.  Click here for live samples.

 

Musical tradition of Persian Classical Music is passed on generation by generation through the oral tradition, not by notation as we see in western world.  The Dasghas and Awaz are all memorized and repeated to a point that writing them becomes redundant.  Fortunately, in the past century, with the help of Colonel Vaziri, Persian Music was finally transferred to paper and it was recorded.  Following the tradition of Col. Vaziri, musical scholars such as Khaleghi, Saba, Payvar, and many more added to the library of Persian music and now we have a vast library of musical notation to choose from.  However, if one is to become a master of Persian classical music, one has to become familiar with the oral tradition and be able to improvise at moment’s notice.  This spontaneity is what makes this music so enchanting and captivating to its audience.  The improvisation that exists in Persian classical music brings the musician and its audience close together and enables the two to feed off one another during this exchange of emotion and creativity.  Click here for live samples. 

 

After the Islamic revolution of 1979, Persian Classical music was also affected.  There air of revolution affected the musical tradition and there was a move to abandon the use of violin and other western instruments that had become a main stay.  The violin was replaced by Kamanche (its ancestor) and other musical instrument such as Daf (a percussion instrument) became popular among the musician and general public.  This had a positive and a negative affect.  The remembrance of the old and forgotten instruments was not only nationalistic but also authentic.  However, abandoning the more advanced musical instruments affected the virtuosity of the musicians and their ability to perform in large ensembles.  Fortunately, the insistence of musicians and the public on using the old instruments has somewhat lessened in the past decade and we now can see new recordings with large ensembles that use western classical instruments as well.  Click here for live samples. 

Overall, Persian Classical music is evolving and trying to find its new identity among the new generation of Iranians.  It has become more popular and has shown to bridge the gap between the old and the new.  Click here for live samples.