Reza Vali – Esfahân (Navona Records, 2024)
Reza Vali’s Esfahân presents a profound, exquisite and masterfully crafted fusion of Persian and Western classical music, featuring compositions that intertwine traditional Persian instruments with Western ensembles. Born in Qazvin, Iran, in 1952, Vali served as a faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music from 1988 until his retirement in 2022. His compositions have reached audiences through performances by prominent ensembles, including the Pittsburgh Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Seattle Chamber Players, Da Capo Chamber Players, and Kronos Quartet.
Esfahân spans two discs and includes eight pieces for diverse instrumentation, from Persian wind and string instruments to electronics, string quartet, and mezzo-soprano. The compositions utilize a unique 17-tone Persian tuning system inspired by the Dastgâh-Maqâm modal structure, rediscovered through Vali’s extensive research into Iranian music.
This album includes notable works such as Hajiani, which pairs the Persian karnâ with electronics, Sornâ (Folk Songs, Set No. 17) featuring Persian wind instruments and ensemble, and Four Persian Mystic Poems for mezzo-soprano and ensemble. Each piece reflects Vali’s innovative approach, integrating traditional modes with polyphonic textures and structured compositions that respect Persian music’s modal depth while exploring Western polyphony.
Author: Tyler Bennet
