A brief mention of Iranian language should be made here. Prior to the Arab invasion of Iran (Persia), that is before 636A.D, Iranian languages were nearly pure Iranian and consisted of no foreign words whatsoever. Even though Parsi (the oficial Persian language) does contain foreign words, the words are not understood by Arabs. Parsi is not a branch of Arabic. The term "Khonyâ-ye Bâstâni" is the purely Iranian transliteration of what would translate into "Ancient Iranian Music," that is to say, Iranian Classical Music. This Iranian term is well-understood today, but it is rarely used when compared to the more frequently used term, "Musiqi-e assil," which would translate to about the same. Through excavated evidence, such as statuettes recovered in Susa, it can be fairly stated that music in Iran can be traced back to the days of the Elamite Empire (2,500-644B.C). Understandably, little is known of the music during this period except for the fact that various instruments, such as guitars, lutes, and flutes were created and played. Instruments, such as the "Barbat," are said to have originated in this period, probably around 800B.C.
During the Achaemenid Empire, that infamous "Persian Empire," it was stated by Heredotus that music played an important role, especially in court. He mentions that music was crucial to religious ceremonies in worshiping the God, Mithra, whom was later to be accepted a "Daeva," a false God or devil, as well
The term "Khonyâ-ye Bâstâni Irâni" is a post-Achaemenian term. Parsi (
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]) is a language that was spoken at court along with Pahlavi, the official language of the Sassanid Empire (224-642A.D.) and consists of most of the same words and the same grammar as Pahlavi. So the word for music during Sassanid rule and in pure Parsi today, is actually "Khonya." Though the origins of Iran's modal music remain vague, research has revealed more than was previously known. The court musician of the Sassanid Empire, Barbod the Great, created the first ever musical system in the Middle East, known as the "Royal Khosravani," dedicated to the king Khosrow (Chosroes). Many of the current names of the modes used in Iranian Classical Music, "
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]," have survived from that time by an oral tradition, though many of the modes and melodies have disappeared, probably because of Arab invaders who viewed music as immoral behavior. Post Sasanian era silver plate. ... Post Sasanian era silver plate. ... Sassanid Empire at its greatest extent The Sassanid dynasty (also Sassanian) was the name given to the kings of Persia during the era of the second Persian Empire, from 224 until 651, when the last Sassanid shah, Yazdegerd III, lost a 14-year struggle to drive out the Umayyad Caliphate... Persian (known variously as: Ùارسی Fârsi, local name in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, پارسی Pârsi, older, local name still used by some speakers, Tajik, a Central Asian dialect, or Dari, another local name in Tajikistan and Afghanistan) is a language spoken in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia... The tradition of Persian art music embodies twelve modal systems, known as dastgahs. ...
Iranian Classical Music is
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] and is based on a series of modal scales and tunes which must be memorized. Apprentices and masters (
ostad) have a traditional relationship which has declined during the 20th century as music education moved to universities and conservatoires. A repertoire of more than two hundreed series (
radif) are each divided into short melodies called
gusheh, which are themselves divided into twelve
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]. Each
Gusheh and
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] has an individual name. A typical performance consists of a "pishdaramad" (pre-introduction), "daramad" (introduction), "tasnif" (song), "Chahar Mezrab" (rhythmic) and a chosen number of "gusheh" (movements). Unconventionally, these parts may be varied or omitted. Up untill the end of the Safavid Empire (1502-1736), complex movements in 10, 14, and 16 beats stopped being performed. Today, pieces are performed in 6 or at most 7 beats, which is unfortunate. Many melodies and modes are related to the
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] of
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] and
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]:it must be made clear that the Arabs, upon their invasion of the Persian Empire, declared the lands they had conquered as their "Islamic World." Though most Arab rulers prohibited musical activity, others ordered Persian musicians to write compositions in the form of a book which was called, in Arabic, "Kitab al-Musiqi al-Kabir," meaning The Great Book of Music. Other than the influence of the Sassanid Empire, this is another reason that melodies within the classical musics of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Egypt bare some names of Iranian scales and modes. Improvisation is the act of making something up as it is performed. ... The tradition of Persian art music embodies twelve modal systems, known as dastgahs. ... The tradition of Persian art music embodies twelve modal systems, known as dastgahs. ... In Arab music a maqam [sic] (plural maqamat) is, a technique of improvisation that defines the pitches, patterns, and development of a piece of music and which is unique to Arabian art music. ... Arab music is the music of Arabic-speaking people or countries, especially those centered around the Arabian Peninsula. ...
The Classical music is vocal based. The vocalist plays a crucial role: she or he decides what mood to express and which
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] relates to that mood. The vocalist is also responsable, in many cases, for choosing the poems to be sung. If the performance requires a singer, the singer is accompanied by at least one wind or string instrument, and at least one type of percussion. There could be an ensemble of instruments, though the primary vocalist must maintain hers or his role. At times, the musicians may accompany the singer by singing along several verses. Traditionally, music is performed while seated on finely decorated cusions and rugs. Candles are sometimes lit. The group of musicians and the vocalist decide on which
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] and which of their gushehs to perform, depending on the mood of a certain time or situation. The tradition of Persian art music embodies twelve modal systems, known as dastgahs. ... The tradition of Persian art music embodies twelve modal systems, known as dastgahs. ...
Before the Arab invasion, the melodies in which recitals from the "Avesta," the sacred book of the Mazdean religion of Prophet Zoroaster(world's first Prophet of Monotheistic religion) were chanted or sung, were fited into those modes (visit
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]for more details on this in Persian). The term "gah" has two meanings: in the Pahlavi language, it means both "gath" (a prayer from the Avesta) and also "time." The modes "yekgah, dogah, segah chahargah, panjgah, sheshgah, and haftgah" were used to recite gaths one through seven. Recently, it was discovered that the mode "rast" (lit. truth) was used while singing stories of truthful acts or people and "shekasteh" (lit. broken) was used in telling stories of evil doers. The mode "homayoun" was used while reciting morning prayers. Most of these modes, except probably for "sheshgah" and "haftgah" still exist in the system today. Despite this evidence, musicians still tend to attribute the meaning of "gah" strictly to "time" or "place" in regards to movements on an instrument. When Islam became the dominant religion of Iran, rulers decided to either ban music or to later discourage people from the recital of Mazdean prayers in those modes. Classical music was performed strictly in court up until the 20th century. It was performed in secret during the rule of Islamic extremists of medieval era. It is important to say that a few movements are probably not ancient, but very old. Download high resolution version (700x683, 484 KB)Picture of painting from Hasht-Behesht Palace (Palace of the 8 heavens) , Isfahan, Iran, dated 1669. ... Download high resolution version (700x683, 484 KB)Picture of painting from Hasht-Behesht Palace (Palace of the 8 heavens) , Isfahan, Iran, dated 1669. ...
Iranian Classical Music continues to function as a spiritual tool as it has throughout its history, and much less of a recreational activity. Compositions can vary immensely from start to finish, usually alternating between low, contemplative pieces and athletic displays of musicianship called tahrir. The incorporation of religious texts as lyrics were replaced by lyrics largely written by Medieval, Sufi poets especially
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] and
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]. Khwajeh Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi (also spelled Hafiz) (خواجه شمس‌الدین Ù…Øمد ØاÙظ شیرازی in Persian) was a Persian mystic and poet. ... Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi or Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi Rumi (also known as Mowlavi or Moulana, meaning my guide in Iran, Central and South Asia or Mevlana meaning our guide in Turkey) (September 30, 1207 - December 17, 1273 CE) was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic, who was...
Instruments used in Persian classical music include the bowed spike-fiddle
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید], the goblet drum
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید], the end-blown flute
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید], the frame drum
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید], the long-necked lutes
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید],
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید],
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید],
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید], and the dulcimer
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]. Harps, "chang[s]," were a very important part of music up until the middle of the Safavid Empire. They were most-likely replaced by the piano which was introduced by the West during the Safavid Dynasty of Iran. Many, if not most, of these instruments inspired the creation of instruments of other Middle Eastern Countries. Perhaps the most loved string instrument is the
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید]. Tar players are highly chosen to function as the primary string instrument in a performance. The
[ میهمان گرامی برای مشاهده لینک ها نیاز به ثبت نام دارید] is also very loved for its delicacy and is the favorite among Mystic musicians. Some instruments like the sorna, neyanban, dohol, gheichak, and others, are no longer used in the Classical repertoire as they were during the Sassanid era yet they have maintained their place in Iranian Folk Music, another ancient tradition. The instruments used in the Classical field are also used in Iranian Folk Music. The kamancheh or kamÄnche (کمانچه - violinette) is a Persian instrument similar to a violin. ... The Goblet drum is a goblet or hour-glass shaped hand drum used in Arab music, Persian music, Balkan music and Turkish music. ... Woman playing the ney in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669 The ney (also nai, nye, nay) is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music--in some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. ... A Persian woman playing a frame drum, from a painting on the walls of Chehel-sotoon palace, Isfahan, 17th century, Iran. ... Iranian Tar Woman playing the tar in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669 Iranian Tar The tar is a long-necked, waisted lute found in Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and other areas near the Caucasus region. ... Setar Setar Azerbaijani The setar is an Iranian musical instrument and means three strings in Persian. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... The dutar (Also dotar or doutar) is a traditional long-necked two-stringed lute found in Central Asia. ... The santur (سَنتور) is a hammered dulcimer of Persia. ... Iranian Tar Woman playing the tar in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669 Iranian Tar The tar is a long-necked, waisted lute found in Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and other areas near the Caucasus region. ... Setar Setar Azerbaijani The setar is an Iranian musical instrument and means three strings in Persian. ...
as several other idols, after the religion of Prophet Zoroaster became more and more accepted
