Iranian folk music
Encyclopedia
Despite all common roots the folk music in each different part of Iran has certain characteristics in correlation with its native myths, dialects, geographical and social situation. Overall, Iranian folk music features a variety of distinct styles.
, or, for others, one of several different forms of modernism. Among the major Europe
an composers, Bela Bartok
, Manuel de Falla
, and Zoltan Kodaly
remained significantly committed to using folk music as primary sources for their works. Similar issues can be seen in the history of Iranian 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. They are, a kind of shawm called Surnay (or Sorna ~ Zorna), the various types of Ney (flute), and the Dohol, a doubleheader drum. A discussion of Persian music must necessarily include the new hybrid of mixed Persian-Western music which is functioning as a popular-commercial music. The use of western popular rhythms, an elementary harmonic superimposition, and relatively large ensembles composed of mostly western instruments, characterize this music. The melodic and modal aspects of these compositions maintain basically Persian elements. On the whole, it would be something of an understatement to say that the artistic merit of such a melange as this is rather questionable. (Prof. Farhat-musicologist Persianartmusic.com)
Iran is home to several ethnic group
s, including Kurd
ish, Azerbaijanis, Armenians
, Assyrian
, Bakhtiari and Baluchi
peoples. 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. The most famous personalities in Iranian folk music are Pari Zangeneh and Sima Bina
.
Sima Bina
is one of the most renowned traditional Persian singers. As a true anthropologist of Khorassan
music, she has been compiling for years a traditional repertoire from this province. Singing in Persian, but also in Turkish and Kurdish, she perpetuates a tradition of folk music which praises nature and love, and which evokes nostalgia and the changing times.http://oainternational.free.fr/concertAng.htm
Bahman Alaoddin also known as Masoud Bakhtiari (b. 1940, d. 2006) was a renowned Iranian musician, vocalist and songwriter and perhaps the most notable figure in Bakhtiari music. A prolific musician, he made some 50 music albums and numerous memorable songs.
Kamkars group is perhaps the most prominent group that performs Kurdish folk music as well as Iranian classical music.
Introduction
Many composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries used the folk music of their native countries as a source of inspiration for their compositions. For some composers, such as Stravinsky, this was a short-lived infatuation soon to be followed by neoclassicismNeoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
, or, for others, one of several different forms of modernism. Among the major Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an composers, Bela Bartok
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
, and Zoltan Kodaly
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
remained significantly committed to using folk music as primary sources for their works. Similar issues can be seen in the history of Iranian 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. They are, a kind of shawm called Surnay (or Sorna ~ Zorna), the various types of Ney (flute), and the Dohol, a doubleheader drum. A discussion of Persian music must necessarily include the new hybrid of mixed Persian-Western music which is functioning as a popular-commercial music. The use of western popular rhythms, an elementary harmonic superimposition, and relatively large ensembles composed of mostly western instruments, characterize this music. The melodic and modal aspects of these compositions maintain basically Persian elements. On the whole, it would be something of an understatement to say that the artistic merit of such a melange as this is rather questionable. (Prof. Farhat-musicologist Persianartmusic.com)
Iran is home to several ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s, including Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
ish, Azerbaijanis, Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Assyrian
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
, Bakhtiari and Baluchi
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
peoples. Turkmen
Turkmen people
The Turkmen are a Turkic people located primarily in the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran. They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai,...
epic poets similar to Central Asian musicians are common in Khorasan, while Kurdish music
Kurdish music
Kurdish music refers to music performed in Kurdish language.Traditionally, there are three types of Kurdish Classical performers - storytellers , minstrels and bards . There was no specific music related to the Kurdish princely courts, and instead, music performed in night gatherings is...
and Music of Armenia
Music of Armenia
Armenia is situated close to the Caucasus Mountains, and its music is a mix of indigenous folk music, perhaps best-represented by Djivan Gasparyan's well-known duduk music, as well as light pop, and extensive Christian music, due to Armenia's status as the oldest Christian nation in the...
is known for its double-reed duduk
Duduk
The duduk , traditionally known since antiquity as a Ծիրանափող is a traditional woodwind instrument indigenous to Armenia. Variations of it are popular in the Middle East and Central Asia...
and an earthy, dance-oriented sound. The most famous personalities in Iranian folk music are Pari Zangeneh and Sima Bina
Sima Bina
Simā Binā is notable Persian classical musician and Iran's researcher, composer, singer and song-writer of Iranian folk music...
.
Sima Bina
Sima Bina
Simā Binā is notable Persian classical musician and Iran's researcher, composer, singer and song-writer of Iranian folk music...
is one of the most renowned traditional Persian singers. As a true anthropologist of Khorassan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
music, she has been compiling for years a traditional repertoire from this province. Singing in Persian, but also in Turkish and Kurdish, she perpetuates a tradition of folk music which praises nature and love, and which evokes nostalgia and the changing times.http://oainternational.free.fr/concertAng.htm
Bahman Alaoddin also known as Masoud Bakhtiari (b. 1940, d. 2006) was a renowned Iranian musician, vocalist and songwriter and perhaps the most notable figure in Bakhtiari music. A prolific musician, he made some 50 music albums and numerous memorable songs.
Music of Sistan and Baluchistan
- In 2007, Mulla Kamal KhanMulla Kamal KhanMulla Kamal Khan or Kamalan :Mulla Kamal Khan or Kamalan :Mulla Kamal Khan or Kamalan :(Persian: (ملا کمال خان یا کمالان ) Lived (1941 – February 21, 2010). Was a Baluch-Iranian folklore vocalist, he was born in 1941 in Latidan village, Dashtyari district, Chabahar County in the Sistan and...
was awarded one of the most prestigious Iranian music awards for his contribution to the regional music of Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran.
Kurdish music
The forms of music found in various parts of Kurdistan, all known as Kurdish music, vary depending on the climate and geography of the regions as well as their contact with the neighboring cultures. For example, the melodies found among the people living in the mountains are different from those found among the people living in the meadows. However, the poetry and the rhythms are common to both areas.Kamkars group is perhaps the most prominent group that performs Kurdish folk music as well as Iranian classical music.
Music of Khuzestan
- Magham Music
- called "tor" and every "tor" may have its own accent and poems.
Music of Azarbaijan ( Azarbadegan, Iran)
This is the music of provinces of Zanjan, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Ardabil in Iran. Azerbaijan like other parts of Iran has a distinct music. On February 21, 1828, under the Treaty of Turkmenchay, Russia seized the control of Iranian territory to the North of the River Aras, which is now called the Republic of Azerbaijan where they share very similar music as Azarbijanis in Iran. The number of Azerbaijnis in Iran is about three times larger than population of Republic of Azerbaijan.- http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/91_folder/91_articles/91_shahriyari.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan
Iranian folk music in Iranian cultural continent
- Music of AzerbaijanMusic of AzerbaijanMusic of Azerbaijan builds on folk traditions that reach back nearly 1,000 years. For centuries Azerbaijani music has evolved under the badge of monody, producing rhythmically diverse melodies. Azerbaijani music has a branchy mode system, where chromatisation of major and minor scales is of great...
- Music of ArmeniaMusic of ArmeniaArmenia is situated close to the Caucasus Mountains, and its music is a mix of indigenous folk music, perhaps best-represented by Djivan Gasparyan's well-known duduk music, as well as light pop, and extensive Christian music, due to Armenia's status as the oldest Christian nation in the...
- Assyrian musicAssyrian musicAssyrian music may refer to:*Music in ancient Assyria*Assyrian/Syriac folk music*Syriac sacral music, sacral music in Syriac Christianity...
- Music of GeorgiaMusic of GeorgiaGeorgia has rich and still vibrant traditional music, which is primarily known as arguably the earliest polyphonic tradition of the Christian world. Situated on the border of Europe and Asia, Georgia is also a home of variety of urban singing styles with the mixture of native polyphony, Middle...
- Music of DagestanMusic of DagestanThe music of Dagestan includes both the Dagestani Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Academic Dance Ensemble. Gotfrid Hasanov, said to be the first professional composer from Dagestan, wrote Khochbar, the first Dagestani opera, in 1945....
- Kurdish musicKurdish musicKurdish music refers to music performed in Kurdish language.Traditionally, there are three types of Kurdish Classical performers - storytellers , minstrels and bards . There was no specific music related to the Kurdish princely courts, and instead, music performed in night gatherings is...
- Music of TurkmenistanMusic of TurkmenistanThe music of the nomadic and rural Turkmen people is closely related to Kyrgyz and Kazakh folk forms. Important musical traditions in Turkmen music include traveling singers and shamans called bakshy, who act as healers and magicians and sing either a cappella or with instruments such as the...
- Music of AfghanistanMusic of AfghanistanThe music of Afghanistan has existed for a long time, but since the late 1970s the country has been involved in constant wars and people were less concerned about music...
- Music of TajikistanMusic of TajikistanTajik music is closely related to Central Asian forms. The classical music is shashmaqam, which Uzbeks also developed classical music of Tajiks and made their distinctive own....
- Music of UzbekistanMusic of UzbekistanCentral Asian classical music is called shashmaqam, which arose in Bukhara in the late 16th century when that city was a regional capital. Shashmaqam is closely related to Azeri mugam and Uyghur muqam. The name, which translates as six maqams refers to the structure of the music, which contains...
Notable figures
- Pari Zanganeh
- Sima BinaSima BinaSimā Binā is notable Persian classical musician and Iran's researcher, composer, singer and song-writer of Iranian folk music...
- Kamkars group
- Bahman Alaoddin
- Ali SalimiAli SalimiAli Salimi , , was an Azerbaijani musician, composer and tar player. He had been based in Tehran for the last few decades where he made significant contribution to promotion and development of Azerbaijani music....
- Shanbehzadeh EnsembleShanbehzadeh EnsembleShanbehzadeh Ensemble is an Iranian folk band, formed in Bushehr in 1990. The band offers a rare aspect of the traditional music and dance of the Persian Gulf, more specially of the province of Bushehr, south of Iran and bordering Persian gulf....
- La'l Bakhsh Beik (لعل بخش بيک)
- Noor Mohammad Dorpour (نورمحمد درپور)
- Gholam ALi Ney-navaz ( غلامعلی نی نواز)
- Shir Mohammad Espandar ( شير محمد اسپندار )
- Ali Mohammad Balouch (علی محمد بلوچ)
- Masha'llah Bameri ( ماشاءالله بامری )
- Reza ValiReza valiReza Vali is an Iranian musician and composer.Reza Vali was born in Iran and studied at the Tehran Conservatory. In 1972, he attended the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, where he studied composition. He later attended the University of Pittsburgh where he received his PhD in...
- Shoista Mullojonova (TajikistanTajikistanTajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
) - Shah Niaz Musiev (UzbekistanUzbekistanUzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
) - Mitra Rahbar
- Monika JaliliMonika JaliliMonika Jalili is a vocalist singing songs of Iran, mostly in Persian.Born in the United States, Monika is of Dutch, German and Iranian descent. She studied music at The Manhattan School of Music. She was a student of Beverley Peck Johnson...
- Ziba ShiraziZiba ShiraziZiba Shirazi is an Iranian Jazz/ Pop musician , her songs mostly focused on women’s emotion, bold expressions of Love and Feminism.-Biography:...
- Zohreh JooyaZohreh Jooya- Music career :Jooya's father was an Afghan and her mother an Iranian. Zohreh Jooya has been said to have moved to Europe for further advancement into music studies. After earning her classical music education from Amsterdam she then moved to Vienna in 1980, where she later earned a masters degree...
- Minoo Javan
- Hossein Farjami
- Zoya Sabet
- Darya DadvarDarya DadvarDaryā Dādvar, is an accomplished Iranian soprano soloist and composer living in Paris, France.-Education:Darya is a native of Rasht but grew up in Tehran. In 1991 she left Iran for France where she studied music. She is a graduate of The National Conservatory in Toulouse, France...
- Mohsen Sharifian
See also
- Music of IranMusic of IranThe music of Iran has thousands of years of history, as seen in the archeological documents of Elam, one of the earliest world cultures,which was located in southwestern Iran...
- List of Iranian musicians
- Folk musicFolk musicFolk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
- Afsaneh BalletAfsaneh BalletAfsāneh Ballet is a non-profit cultural organization devoted to the expressive arts dance, music and poetry of the greater Persian cultural zone Iranian cultural continent: Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Western China...
- Lloyd MillerLloyd MillerLloyd Miller was an Australian athlete who competed in the 1938 British Empire Games.In 1936 he won the silver medal in the triple jump event at the Empire Games.-External links:**...