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Moosiqi Asil or Persian music is the traditional and indigenous music of Persia and Persian-speaking countries: musiqi, the science and art of music, and moosiqi, the sound and performance of music (Sakata 1983). Image File history File linksMetadata Persian_art_collage. ... Iran is filled with tombs of poets and musicians, such as this one belonging to Rahi Moayeri. ... Naghsh-i Jahan Square, Isfahan, is the second largest square in the world and arguably the gem of Persian architectural masterpieces. ... The themes of Persian miniature are mostly related to the Persian mythology and poetry. ... Persian literature is literature written in Persian. ... The beliefs and practices of the culturally and linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Iranian Plateau and its borderlands, as well as areas of Central Asia from the Black Sea to Khotan (modern Ho-tien, China), form Persian mythology. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Iranian cuisine. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Figurines playing stringed instruments, excavated at Susa, 3rd millenia BC. Iran National Museum. ... Persia (Iran) has an ancient tradition of its own design of motifs. ... Iran (Persia) possesses an extraordinary treasure of royal jewelry including the mothers-of-pearl caught in the Persian Gulf. ... Carpet is a general term given to any loom-woven or felted textile and to grass floor coverings. ... Art depicting two men in a Persian Garden Persian Gardens refers to a tradition and style of garden design which originated in Persia, modernday Iran. ... Music is an art, entertainment, or other human activity which involves organized and audible sound, though definitions vary. ... The term Persian Empire refers to a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau. ... Persian (known variously as: فارسی 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...

"Musiqi e' Sonnati Iran": The traditional music of Iran

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 as several other idols, after the religion of Prophet Zoroaster became more and more accepted.

Ancient Iranians attached great importance to music and poetry, like today. Post Sassanid era silver plate. 7th century. The British Museum.

The term "Khonyâ-ye Bâstâni Irâni" is a post-Achaemenian term. Parsi (Persian) 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, "Dastgahs," 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: فارسی 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 improvised 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 Dastgah. Each Gusheh and Dastgah 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 maqams of Turkish and Arabic music: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 Dastgah 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 Dastgahs 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. ...

This wall painting depicts a scene from 17th century Persia.

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 [1]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 Hafez and Jalal-e Din Rumi. Khwajeh Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi (also spelled Hafiz) (خواجه شمس‌الدین محمد حافظ 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 kamancheh, the goblet drum tombak, the end-blown flute ney, the frame drum daf, the long-necked lutes tar, setar, tambur, dotar, and the dulcimer santur. 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 tar. Tar players are highly chosen to function as the primary string instrument in a performance. The setar 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 kamānche (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. ...

Major instruments

• Daf
• Santur
• Setar
• Tar
• Ney
• kamancheh
• Tombak
• Tambur
• Dotar
• Barbat

A Persian woman playing a frame drum, from a painting on the walls of Chehel-sotoon palace, Isfahan, 17th century, Iran. ... The santur (سَنتور) is a hammered dulcimer of Persia. ... Setar Setar Azerbaijani The setar is an Iranian musical instrument and means three strings in Persian. ... 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. ... 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. ... The kamancheh or kamānche (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. ... 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. ... // History The barbat is an ancient musical instrument of Persian origin, refined during the Arab age into the current form, called the oud. ...

Reference

• Sakata, Lorraine (1983). Music in the Mind, The Concepts of Music and Musicians in Afghanistan. Kent: Kent State University Press.

Further reading

• Miller, Lloyd. Music and Song in Persia : The Art of Avaz. Salt Lake City University of Utah Press, 1999.

See also

• Music of Iran
• Music of Afghanistan
• Music of Tajikistan
• Music of Uzbekistan
• Sassanid music
• Persian literature
• dastgah

Figurines playing stringed instruments, excavated at Susa, 3rd millenia BC. Iran National Museum. ... Since the 1980s, Afghanistan has been involved in near constant violence. ... Tajik music is closely related to Uzbek music and other Central Asian forms. ... Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country inhabited primarily by Turkic Uzbeks. ... Ancient Iranians attached great importance to music and poetry, as they still do today. ... Persian literature is literature written in Persian. ... The tradition of Persian art music embodies twelve modal systems, known as dastgahs. ...

External links

• Nay-Nava the Encyclopedia of Persian Music Instruments
• Rhythmic Forms of Persian Art Music by Peyman Nasehpour
• About Persian traditional music
• Another portal
• Another portal
• Music page by Iranian students at Stanford
• Shoutcast of Persian traditional music
• Persian music week (in Persian)