Persian music is one of the world's oldest and most diversified musical traditions. It has been formed by a 3,000-year-long history and culture, and it has affected musical genres throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. In this essay, we shall travel through time to investigate the history of Persian music, from its earliest beginnings to its present growth.
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| Famous Persian band Masih & Arash performing 'Shah Beyt' in Tehran |
The Roots of Persian Music
Persian music has a long and illustrious history, dating back thousands of years to pre-Islamic Persian civilisation. The beginnings of this music may be traced back to the Achaemenian Dynasty, which ruled from 550 and 331 BC and in which music played an important part in religious rites and royal life. Since then, Persian music has grown and developed throughout the country's classical, medieval, and modern eras, influencing regions considered to be part of Greater Iran.
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Persian traditional music is distinguished by its focus on both composition and improvisation, which is based on a set of modal scales and melodies that must be learned. This is shown by the classical vocal style, vz, which is at the center of this music and lays high creative demands on vocalists. The radif system, a set of melodic elements used as a foundation for improvisation and composition, is another essential part of Persian music.
Persian traditional music has a distinct sound, which is achieved by the usage of instruments such as the kamancheh (a bowed spike-fiddle), santur (a hammered dulcimer), and ney. (an end-blown flute). These instruments have been in use for thousands of years, with the ney being the oldest still in use, going back 5000 years.
The Golden Age of Persian Music
The Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the eighth through the thirteenth centuries, was a period of significant cultural and scientific progress in the Muslim world. During this period, Persian music flourished, with the introduction of new musical genres and the invention of new instruments like as the santur and the tar.
Rumi (1207-1273), a poet and musician whose mystical poetry and song continue to inspire artists today, was a pivotal figure in the history of Persian music. Rumi's poetry, which was frequently put to music, was instrumental in the formation of Sufi music, a type of devotional music that is still popular in Iran and other Muslim countries.
The Safavid Empire (1501-1736) was another pivotal time in Persian music history. The Safavid kings were tremendous supporters of the arts, and Persian music saw extraordinary expansion and invention under their reign. New musical genres evolved, such as the qazal and the tasnif, and the use of the human voice as a solo instrument grew in popularity.
Modern-Day Persian Music
Iranian history began in the 1950s, when Persian pop music transformed the country's music business. Prior to this time, Persian classical music dominated the market, and it wasn't until the rise of the western-influenced middle class that Persian pop music took center stage.
During this time, performers such as Vigen Derderian, dubbed the "King of Jazz," played an important part in the growth of Persian pop music. He brought about a revolution that corresponded with the establishment of a new middle class in Iran, which contributed to the development of a new sound in Iranian music.
Persian pop music is distinguished by the use of indigenous instruments and forms in combination with western-influenced genres, which contributed to the creation of a distinct sound that grew popular not only in Iran but also across the Middle East.
Several more notable performers emerged during this period of Persian music, notably Googoosh, who went on to become one of the most successful Iranian vocalists of all time. Her strong voice and ability to merge traditional Persian music with western pop music genres made her famous. Other renowned artists of the time were Ramesh, Mahasti, and Ebi, all of whom contributed to the development of a new sound known as the Golden Age of Persian Music.
Traditional Persian music, in addition to mainstream music, played a vital role throughout this time period. Iran's classical music was built on a sequence of modal scales and songs that had to be learned and relied on both composition and improvisation. Compositions might vary greatly from beginning to end, typically alternating between low, meditative parts and Tahrir. (elaborate melismatic singing).
Despite the prominence of Persian pop music throughout the Golden Age, traditional Persian music remained influential in Iranian society. Its artistic prowess has resulted in a spectacular literary legacy, a superb history of ornamental arts and handicrafts, and a sophisticated musical culture whose influence may be found as far afield as Spain and Japan.
Persian music underwent a tremendous transition in the twentieth century, when Western musical influences began to be absorbed into the old Persian musical heritage. This was due, in part, to the impact of Iranian expatriates residing in Europe and the United States, who brought new musical genres and instruments from the West back to Iran.
Mohammad Reza Shajarian (1940-2020), widely recognized as one of the finest Persian musicians of all time, is one of the most influential personalities in modern-day Persian music. Shajarian's work was firmly anchored in Persian musical history while also incorporating aspects of Western classical music and jazz.
Persian music is still evolving and adapting to new influences and technology nowadays. Bands like Ehaam, Masih & Arash, Evan Band and singers like Mohsen Yaganeh, Hamid Hiraad and Sirvan Khosravi have rocked world musical stage. The internet and social media have made it easier for Persian musicians to reach a worldwide audience, resulting in the birth of new musical genres such as Persian hip hop and electronic music.
The history of Persian music demonstrates music's persistent ability to transcend time and location. Persian music has been molded by a rich cultural and historical history that continues to inspire performers and audiences throughout the world, from its oldest beginnings in the ancient Persian Empire to its modern-day evolution.