Music of Iran
Classical Music Of Iran
The repertoire of melody patterns in traditional Persian art music is organized into systems or modes. The seven main systems are called Dastagh, and the five secondary systems are Avaz. Classical Music of Iran, The Dastgah Systems presents examples of both. The music usually consists of a solo instrument or instrument plus voice, often singing verses from mystic Persian poets. Musicians improvise off a traditional melody and use a number of instruments, such as the tar (6-string lute), Santour (hammered dulcimer), and kamancheh ( a stringed instrument similar to a violin).
Persian Traditional
The traditional music of Iran is a message, a call from the artist’s innermost consciousness. Deeply intertwined with Iran’s age-old history and culture, it is an expression of the joys, loves, sorrows, efforts and struggles, all the many victories and defeats that the people of Western Asia have experienced over the millennia. It is something of a miracle that these people have kept their music intact despite numerous, murderous foreign invasions – in fact, imposing their own art, lifestyle and generous view of the world on their invaders.
Persian traditional music or Persian/Iranian classical music is the traditional and indigenous music of Iran and Persian-speaking countries, the science and art of music, the sound, and performance of music (Sakata 1983).
Iranian Traditional Music Instruments
Folk Music of Iran
Iranian folk music is a musical term that refers to the traditional music of the people of Iran. Despite several common roots the folk music in each different part of Iran (some more than others), have more relationship towards each other than others. Several music styles are completely distinct.
Music of Iran:
– Music of Gilan
– Music of Mazandaran
– Music of Isfahan
– Music of Kurdish
– Music of Sistan and Baluchistan
– Music of Khuzestan
– Music of Azerbaijan
– Armenian folk music
The modal concepts in Iranian folk music are directly linked with that of the Iranian classical music. However, improvisation plays a minor role as folk tunes are characterized by relatively clear-cut melodic and rhythmic properties. The function of each folk melody determines its mood. The varying aesthetic requirements of wedding songs, lullabies, love songs, harvest songs, dance pieces, etc., are met with transparent and appropriate simplicity. The majority of the classical instruments are too elaborate and difficult for the folk musicians. Instead, there are literally dozens of musical instruments of various sorts found among the rural people. In fact, each region of the country can boast instruments peculiar to itself. Three types of instruments, however, are common to all parts of the country.
Iran is home to several ethnic groups, including Kurdish, Azerbaijanis, and Armenians, Assyrian, Bakhtiari and Baluchi people. Turkmen epic poets similar to Central Asian musicians are common in Khorasan, while Kurdish music and Music of Armenia is known for its double-reed duduk and an earthy, dance-oriented sound. There is a Music Museum in Isfahan. This museum has been launched by two music masters to demonstrate Iranian musical instruments which have been collected from different parts of Iran.