(Persian tar by Afshari ET-202) The tar, derived from the Persian word for string, is a long-necked instrument belonging to the lute family. It is…
The Tar, an Iconic Long-Necked Persian Lute
Tag: Persian classical music
The Rembrandt Trio and Mohammad Motamedi Deliver “Intizar” – A Transcendent Fusion of Persian and Western Music
Rembrandt Trio – Intizar (Just Listen Records, 2023) The Rembrandt Trio, renowned for their adventurous musical explorations, released their third album, Intizar, in collaboration with…
Nostalgic Melodies Merge with Timeless Osul: Ziya Tabassian’s Latest Musical Journey
Ziya Tabassian – Remembrances (Bostan, 2023) In Ziya Tabassian’s Remembrances album, the foundational elements are deeply rooted in rhythmic cycles, or Osul, meticulously gathered from…
Santoor Maestro Mirsaeed Hosseiny Panah Meets Western Classicism
Mirsaeed Hosseiny Panah – I Wish I Were Water (Losen Records, 2022) Santur (also known as santoor) maestro and composer Mirsaeed Hosseiny Panah artfully interweaves…
The Timeless Odyssey of the Santur: From Ancient Assyria to Persia and Beyond
The santur, an ancient musical instrument with roots in the region now known as Iran, holds a rich history and influence across various cultures. Dating…
Elshan Ghasimi: Mastering Tradition and Innovation in Persian Classical Music
Elshan Ghasimi, born 1981 in Isfahan, Iran is a master of the tar, a long-necked Iranian lute instrument, and of Persian classical art music, as…
Kayhan Kalhor and Toumani Diabaté Secure Number One Position on Transglobal World Music Chart for June 2023
The album “The Sky Is the Same Colour Everywhere” by Kayhan Kalhor and Toumani Diabaté has landed at #1 at the Transglobal World Music Chart…
Persian Classical and Electronic Intersections
David Rothenberg, Bernhard Wöstheinrich, Ali Sayah – Homayoun (iapetus Media, 2023) Homayoun features the collaborative efforts of three musicians, David Rothenberg, Bernhard Wöstheinrich, and Ali…
The Kamancha, the Ancient Spiked Fiddle of Persia and Central Asia
(headline image: Anatolia Azeri Kamancha AAK-304 by Arslan) The kamancha is a bowed stringed musical instrument that has garnered widespread use in diverse regions of…
An Introduction to the Kanun, the Versatile Plucked Zither
The kanun, also referred to as qanun, is a type of stringed musical instrument that holds an important place in traditional Middle Eastern and North…