23-25 September
1999
Musikwissenschaftliches Institut,
Universit? zu K?n, K?n, Germany.
The film of the conference speeches and
performances is now available for sale.
Association of Iranian Researchers dedicated its
twenty seventh international conference to the study of 'Iranian Music, past present and future'. This conference was convened jointly with the Music
Institute of Cologne University with the participation of renowned musicians and experts
world-wide. This particular conference was a new yet pleasant experience for the
organisers because of the concerts,
which were organised
The conference was opened with the welcoming words of Professor Dr R?iger
Schumacher, the head of the Music Institute, who commented on the close ties
between the Institute and the studies on Iranian Music.
Dr Hossein Ladjevardi welcomed the audience on behalf of ACI. In his
short opening speech, he reflected upon the famous Iranian musicians such as 'Nakisa' or
'Barbod' whose talents and abilities flourished under the Persian Kings. He went on to
explain the aims and objectives of ACI in organizing the Music conference. He hoped that
with the aid of the experts the pleasure and joy derived from hearing music can be
returned to the Iranian culture and replace the culture of mourning and lamentations
governing it at present.
Professor Dr Nasser Kanani, one of the organisers of the conference was
the first speaker to present his paper. With the aid of some very illuminating slides, he
demonstrated the pre-Islamic history of Music in Iran and its importance in the every day
lives of Iranians. Professor Dr Kanani completed his tour of the history of Iranian music
on the second day by talking about post-Islamic music in Iran.
Dr Thomas Ogger, an expert and lecturer on Iranian music based his
interesting paper on Iranian music, past, present and future. Drawing on his first hand
experiences in Iran during the last several years he introduced his views modernity in
Iranian music at present and where he sees it going.
Professor Dr Hormoz Farhat, one of the most prominent authorities on
Iranian music was the last speaker of the first session. His presence and paper on
'Authenticity versus reform in traditional Persian music' created a great deal of
excitement. Amongst some very revealing points, in his opinion, traditional Persian music
is noble yet familiar, private, and spiritual. He believes that it is to be heard in small
and private gatherings as he did not believe it to have the same effect in a large
informal concert hall. He believes it to be precious and one, which should be preserved.
Dr Reza Torshizi, gave one of most engaging talks of the conference as
the first speaker of the second session on day one. He discussed rhythm in Iranian music.
In his opinion classical Persian poetry was the infrastructure upon which the rhythm of
traditional Iranian music was based.
Abdolhamid Eshragh, presented a very entertaining paper on 'Dastgah' in
Iranian music. He had accessed some first recordings of instruments played by masters,
which he shared with the audience. Amongst them a very beautiful impromptu dialogue
between a canary and the 'tar' playing of one of the masters.
Ghassem Talebzadeh, an accomplished and renowned violinist, discussed
modernity in traditional Iranian music and suggested that by deriving inspiration from
folk and traditional music, the music of the time must be created and that it must catch
the essence of the era it is written and performed for.
Dr Jalal Akhbari, expert and musician, opened the first session of the
second day by discussing the history of ancient Iranian music. In the second part of his
paper in the afternoon session, he related the history to 'Santoour', its evolution, and
teaching technique during the ages.
Dr Hossein Omoumi, one of the most famous masters of 'Ney' presented a
most charming and engaging papers on the history and teachings of the art of playing the
'Ney'. He paid homage to his master, Hassan Kassaie as well as demonstrating a variety of
methods for playing the 'Ney'.
Madjid Khaladj, a young and accomplished musician whose expertise,
knowledge and dedication in the art of Iranian drums has placed him highly amongst the
masters of the instrument gave a most interesting talk punctuated by demonstrations of
various rhythms and their language.
Cyrus Malakouti, the renowned Iranian composer and guitarist, opened the
third and final day of the conference by discussing issues concerning the lives of
musicians and composers in Iran. He told of the problems and difficulties that exist in
Iran for any one who does not necessarily believe in the regime's ideology and that this
was no different for the musicians and composers. Yet, he believed that despite this
oppression the artists in Iran persevered and carried on regardless.
Guiti Khosravi, an opera singer whose initial training was in Iran before
the Islamic Revolution of 1979, talked about the fate of women artists and performers in
the last twenty years.
Dr Mahmoud Khoshnam, another one of the organisers of the conference,
drew upon his vast knowledge as a critic and journalist to discuss the 'modernity
movement' in traditional Iranian music which he believed had started over seventy years
ago in Iran.
Professor Dr R?iger Schumacher, opened the afternoon session. He
presented a most informative paper on the teachings in the Music institute of Cologne
University and its ties with Persian music. He dedicated his paper to Dr Massoudieh a
colleague and close friend.
Dr Eckart Wilkens, an expert on Iranian Music, discussed whether it was
necessary to modernise traditional music for it to become global. He demonstrated his
understanding of Iranian music a beautiful piece for the piano entitled 'Sun, moon and the
stars'. The audience received this very warmly.
Dr Mohamad Assemi, enthralled the audience with his exciting and
passionate delivery of traditional poems and their rhymes and rhythms which in his opinion
had directly affected the music of their time.
Iraj Janati-Attaie, was the last speaker of the conference. A modern
songwriter and playwright he discussed the history of popular music in Iran and the role
of the modern songs in reflecting and shaping the times.
CONCERTS
The generosity of the experts and
musicians who donated their time and performances for two evenings of traditional and
modern music was received warmly and enthusiastically by the audience. Both evenings were
also recorded and broadcast for Iranian listeners and into Iran by the BBC, Voice of
America, Radio Free Europe, Voice of Israel, Radio France Internationale, and Deutsche
Welle.
The first evening - traditional Iranian Music:
Madjid Derakhshani and his beautiful tar playing opened the concert. Jalal Akhbari
followed this with a piece on the 'Santoor' with guest accompaniment of Reza Torshizi on
the 'Tonbak'. To close the evening, Hossein Omoumi and Madjid Khaladj received standing
ovations for their enchanting performance of 'Ney' and 'Tonbak'.
The Second Evening - Contemporary Iranian Music:
The second evening was opened by a special piece for
the flute written and performed by Dr Wilkens for the concert. This was followed by Guiti
Khosravi accompanied on the piano by Dr Sara Hassanpour and later a by Gahssem Talebzadeh
who had composed a piece as a surprise for the organisers.
Cyrus Malakouti closed the first half of the evening with a classical piece performed on
his specially modified and designed guitar.
The second half saw a very entertaining piece by Maryam Akhundi and her group. This was followed by the beautiful folk singing of Parvin Cox accompanied by a student of the Tonbak 'Nassim'. The evening came to its end with the beautiful performance of the 'Bahar' dance group with choreography by Bahrampour.
ACI honours the work of Iraj Janati-Attaie
The final evening was dedicated to Iraj
Janati-Attaie. In his honour, ACI had invited his friends and colleagues as well as two of
the most famous Iranian popular artists 'Daroiush' and 'Ebi'.
His poems were instrumental in their phenomenal success both before and after the Islamic
Revolution.
ACI believes that the successes and achievements of individuals must be honoured while
they are still alive. Not only rewarding, this will allow them to carry on stronger than
ever before and encourage the young generation to follow their example.
ACI would like to thank:
Professor Dr Nasser Kanani,
Dr Mahmoud Khoshnam,
Dr Mehdi Rosefid, head of ACI Germany,
Ms Roya Kashefi, ACI's PR and international co-ordinator
for their valued support and contribution.
We welcome your donations and support for the publication of the book of the conference.