| Musicians show Persian style |
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| Written by Michael Howell -Argonaut | ||||||
| Tuesday, 28 February 2006 | ||||||
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Five years ago, the Masters of Persian Music made their first
appearance in the United States with a tour that spanned 14
cities. The band then performed on a second tour in 2002 that
completely sold out. In 2003, the band earned a Grammy nomination
for its album “Without You.” This year, the band earned another Grammy
nomination for its 2005 album titled “Faryad.” Now, the University of
Idaho is welcoming them this week as part of the Auditorium Chamber
Music Series. Mary DuPree, the series’ director, heard one of the band’s musicians perform on the Silk Road Tour several years ago and decided she had to have the group come to UI. “He was an amazing performer,” DuPree said. Though many people consider chamber music the realm of string quartets, DuPree said the band is a form of chamber music. She said the series will likely include such international group every year from now on in an effort to expand what people recognize as chamber music. “(The band’s music) is very improvisational, which is very different from what we’re used to,” she said. “It will be unlike anything most people have experienced before.” The Masters of Persian Music will begin their UI stay with an introduction to Persian musical traditions at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre. The group will also give a more detailed presentation to UI students at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Room 116 of the Lionel Hampton School of Music. These presentations are open to the public. The evening concert by the band is at 8 p.m. on Thursday in the Administration Auditorium. Other than the exoticism of the music, DuPree said another highlight of the band is its relation to jazz music. “If (students) are interested in jazz and interested in improvisation, they’ll hear a totally different approach to it,” she said. DuPree recommended that interested students go to the Kenworthy workshop first to familiarize themselves with the band’s style of music and rare instruments. The Masters of Persian Music comprise three figures in the contemporary Iranian music scene, including singer Mohammad Reza Shajarian. According to the group’s Web site, Shajarian was born in 1940 in Mashhad, Iran. At 5, he began to study singing under the watch of his father. In 1959, he began singing for Radio Khorasan, a local radio station. By the 1960s, Shajarian had risen to prominence throughout the region. With him is Hossein Alizadeh, a composer known for his mastery of the tar, or plucked lute. In his career, Alizadeh has helped to develop the sallaneh, a plucked string instrument. He has also contributed the soundtrack for great Iranian films like “A Time for Drunken Horses” and “Gabbeh.” The other member of the trio is Kayhan Kalhor. Kalhor is known as the master of the kamancheh, or spike fiddle. He has been involved in the National Orchestra of Radio and Television of Iran. On top of that, he has composed many works for famous musicians, including Shajarian, and represented Iran in the 2001 Chicago World Music Festival. Performing with the trio is Homayoun Shajarian, Mohammad’s son, on tombak, or goblet drum, and backup vocals. DuPree said the concert will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many audience members. “It’s a window into a totally different musical world.”  Add as favorites (52) | Views: 1115
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